
The fast-paced day is something to over and over again notice in my practice, and personally experience. Even with clients, who’d be on a sick leave, because of burnout. It seams that once we get wired for it, it creates the habit to stay in us as a default setting. As if our inner world gets defined by those settings, for no matter the price we’d pay to conform with it.
So the quest for anything, that could support and teach us making a moment to pause, is of a significant value.
Putting pen to paper might just be one of the best and simplest things one can do for personal mental wellbeing. It’s been repeatedly shown, that writing is more than a creative outlet—it’s a scientifically supported tool for preventing and managing mental health challenges.
When we write, something remarkable happens in the brain. The act of translating thoughts into words activates the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible, among other things, for decision-making, emotional regulation, and intention-setting. This can help us make sense of complex emotions and reduce the intensity of stress-provoking ones. There are numerous studies showing, that expressive writing, where we freely reflect on our thoughts and feelings, can significantly decrease activity in the amygdala (one of the main characters, responsible for emotional response), and thus allowing us to feel calmer and more in control.
Beyond emotional regulation, writing also improves clarity and self-awareness. When we feel overwhelmed, our thoughts tend to spiral. By journaling, we might shift these thoughts from a chaotic mental loop into a structured train of thoughts. This process helps the brain’s hippocampus (responsible for memory and learning) to sort, categorize, and integrate information, which can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making.
Even the act of writing out goals or intentions has been shown to strengthen neural pathways. Neuroscientific research suggests that writing engages both hemispheres of the brain, fostering a sense of intention and purpose. Setting your thoughts down on paper increases the likelihood of taking meaningful action, which is crucial for maintaining motivation and resilience.
Whether it’s journaling for ten minutes, jotting down three things we are grateful for, or writing out our worries to “release” them, writing gives us a safe space to process and change. It’s a simple, accessible habit with a rather profound effect on mental wellbeing.
How about grabbing a pen and a paper for giving it a go? And how about getting yourself a designed only for you notebook, giving you the space in time and mind, suggesting you a direction for thoughts and reflections? How about getting a shoulder on your way to self-discoveries? Our suggestion to you is just around the corner. Stay tuned.
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