We know the benefits of writing with a pen and paper for the brain. Yet, it’s also beneficial to your heart and spirit. According to research, those who engage in expressive writing, or writing to help make sense of one’s ideas and feelings, may benefit mentally and emotionally. These advantages include decreased stress, anxiety, and depression and improved clarity and attention. They could even reap bodily advantages. What more fantastic excuses exist for writing anything down?
If you’ve been following the latest paper fashions, you know how much handwriting and journaling have gained even more popularity in recent years. Daily writing may be soothing and serene in the middle of an emotionally trying period or after a hectic day.
According to Tammy Tufty, Domtar’s communications manager for paper advocacy, “especially with social media, a lot of people realize that being digitally connected is taking up a lot of time and energy.” They realize that maybe we need to resume writing, read more books, and just practice mindfulness.
Why Is Journaling Beneficial to Your Soul?
Mental health providers have revealed that keeping a diary enhances our mental wellness and results in tangible bodily advantages, including a boosted immune system and quicker recovery from addiction.
There is a ton of anecdotal proof that keeping a diary may help you understand your feelings.
Moreover, journaling may aid those with ADHD in problem-solving more effectively: “Normally, we approach issues from a left-brained, analytical viewpoint. Engaging the right brain’s intuition may lead to a better solution. This part of the brain is unlocked through writing, which opens the door to creative solutions.
The advantages extend beyond just composing whole sentences. Alongside calming and improving focus, scribbling on paper has several benefits.
Start Your Journey Into Expressive Writing
It’s evident that putting pen to paper is a terrific method to boost your mood, whether you’re actively working through some emotional trauma or simply like the relaxing impact of expressive writing or doodling.
Choose your pen and paper before beginning your writing trip. While you don’t need anything spectacular, you should choose writing tools that are convenient and pleasurable to use. It can be a gel pen that writes smoothly, and in color you like, or it might be a leather-bound diary whose cover makes you happy to touch.
Choose a time and location where you won’t be interrupted. In general, any time of day may work as long as you can write uninterrupted. Many experts advise choosing a time towards the end of your workday or just before night, but truly any time of day can work.
Commit to writing every day for at least 15 minutes.
After you start, don’t stop checking your grammar or spelling. You may rewrite what you’ve written if you need more to say before your allotted time has passed.
It is entirely up to you what you write and how you write it. No regulations exist.
After you’re done, you may shred, burn, tear up, delete, or preserve your expressive writing. You are in charge of what you do with your paper since it is created just for you.
Anonymous writing
People have always wanted to say something about an issue they care about, but the fear of being known by others makes them avoid it. Thousands of messages and comments are published daily in secret, which confirms that people are thirsty for such a thing.
Many websites have been established to allow articles to be published anonymously to emphasize people’s right to anonymous writing.
To promote the right to post anonymously, several countries have enacted legislation to counter any attempt to suppress freedoms. For example, the US Congress passed a law that enshrines that right. All of this is to protect the right of people to express their opinions.
Anonymous writing is an essential pillar in democratic countries. For example, suppose a person thinks about raising a topic. In that case, he or she may hesitate to do so to avoid any ridicule that he may be exposed to, especially if he/she is obligated to reveal their identity. However, anonymous writing will make them express their wants more efficiently without fear. Thus, after talking about a particular topic, a discussion will be found between people. Supporters and opponents will express their thoughts. This reflects positively on democratic life.
As a clear example, dictatorial societies refuse to allow citizens to express their views. Indeed, in some countries, sentences opposing the ruler may reach the death penalty or life imprisonment. On this basis, citizens will not be able to share their ideas with others. By posting anonymously, they will speak without fear of repression.
Anonymous writing makes it easier to intelligently criticize others rather than hesitating to speak. For example, suppose a person is an Apple employee, and he or she wants to send a message advising the improvement of working hours or the work environment. In that case, he/she may be afraid of dismissal or insult by the company’s management. But suppose this employee writes an article and publishes it under a fictitious name through the New York Times. In that case, this will make the company’s management take the notes into account without anyone knowing who the article’s author is.
If someone is shy and doesn’t like to talk publicly about an issue, then anonymous writing will help them overcome that hurdle. For example, if a person wants advice on improving his relationship with his fiancée, he may feel ashamed to tell others about such an idea. But if he publishes his story on a social networking site through an anonymous account, this will make him more confident in himself and, at the same time, make people race to give him tips for living a better emotional life.
