Health Benefits of Writing

For some people, writing is a grueling task. For others, writing is a delightful hobby; a passion that fires them up and gives them a sense of purpose. No matter what role writing plays in your life though, you will find it is very beneficial. You may not be aware of it, but there are many health benefits of writing.

Health Benefits of Writing that Might Surprise You

Mental health

Writing is an exercise for the brains. When you write, the neurons in your brains are stimulated and your sense of imagination as well as your logic is at work.

You become more aware of your reality and of your being when you write. You become more observant. Writing makes you more focused. Thus writing, especially regularly, helps improve memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It also helps prevent breakdown that could be caused by overthinking by organizing your thoughts.

Your creativity is developed when you write. There is no limit to a person’s imagination. And it has been found that those who let their creativity fly through writing are happier and more productive compared to those who don’t.

Retaining information is better when you write it down. As you write, you also become more inquisitive and you consolidate the knowledge you have acquired. Needless to say, writing makes you smarter.

Scientifically, the act of writing accesses your left brain, which is analytical and rational. While your left brain is occupied, your right brain is free to create, intuit and feel. – via Psychcentral

Mood-booster

Even when you don’t have someone to talk to, writing is a great way to express your feelings and release your frustrations, disappointments, and even fears. Writing helps unburden your heart from whatever baggage you are carrying, and helps de-clutter your mind so you see things more clearly.

A clearer vision of things enables you to make sensible decisions, avoiding conflicts and mistakes along the way.
If you’re able to release your negative emotions through writing, your mood improves and you feel so much better than you were before you wrote down your feelings.

Writing enables you to empty your mind from the thoughts that bother you. It is like unloading yourself of the unnecessary trash so you can begin with a clean slate, ready to take on another day.

Writing is an effective therapy that helps patients deal with depression, grief, anxiety and trauma.

Safekeeping memories

When you write, like for example a journal, you preserve memories. You may not always remember the good—and even challenging times in your life so writing serves as a vessel in keeping your memories. You look back one day and read the pages of your journal and you’ll be amazed by how far you’ve come and how much you have achieved.
Keep a record of the times you overcome a problem, as this will motivate you when you feel discouraged.

Powerful life changer

You hear a lot of stories about how successful people write down their goals and are able to achieve them. It is because when we write down our plans and goals, we remember them more. We remind ourselves what we want to achieve and we automatically find ways to make them happen. Writing down your heart’s desire makes it more solid. It is like confirming to yourself what your purpose is and what you need to do for the day—and for the rest of your life.

Being able to tick off your goals from your list makes you aware of the power and joy of achieving your dreams. It makes turning your dreams into reality clearer, and motivates you to achieve more.

Keeping a gratitude journal specifically helps make you focus on the good things that are happening in your life. A grateful heart is a blessing magnet. You become more aware of blessings big and small and you expect and attract more blessings to come.

By writing regularly, you get to know yourself better. You will understand yourself more as you will be able to determine what makes you happy and what does not. Knowing who you really are and what you want gives you a clearer vision of what you want for yourself. So you avoid the things that are not contributing to your well-being.

Physical health

Several studies have been conducted about expressive writing. It’s been found out that expressive writing helps improve long-term physical health. As you cleanse yourself from emotional burdens and toxins, it follows that your body reacts and functions better.

Writing has been surprisingly found to help patients have fewer stress-related visits to the doctor. The reduction of stress level has positively affected the patients’ health. It has helped reduce their blood pressure, improve their lung as well as their liver function. This means fewer days in the hospital.

A study conducted by University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker contends that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. As writing reduces and removes stress in your life by improving your mood, diseases associated with depression are eliminated or avoided.

Writing may just be a simple, modest hobby or job. You may not instantly feel its effects but writing can surprisingly impact your life more powerfully. It can improve your quality of life and has been proven to be good for your well-being.

Start writing now.