Does the thought of sitting down to write feel more like a chore than a joy?
I wonder if it would change your mind if you knew writing can do wonders for your mental health-especially in today’s fast-paced, digital world.
While the digital world offers convenience and speed, especially for writers like me, I’ve recently discovered it doesn’t foster deep thinking or the personal problem-solving ability that comes from a more reflective practice.
What would even make me think about such a thing? My “Morning Pages”. This is not my daily fill of news. It’s a form of journaling from “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron done first thing in your day.
This type of journaling is slightly different from keeping a diary, the form of journaling with which you may be the most familiar. It is instead “stream of conscious” writing, meaning, if it enters your head, it gets written on the page. The beauty of this exercise is anyone can do it. Morning Pages are for your eyes only, and Cameron even suggests resisting the urge to re-read them. The goal isn’t to critique or perfect your writing-it’s to give your mind space to unload and reset.
The Power of Morning Pages
So, what is the purpose of Morning Pages if they’re not to be read by anyone. The point of them is to clear your head before you begin your day. It allows you to enter your day in a good space with your brain firing on all cylinders.
An added bonus I discovered is how effective Morning Pages are for restoring creativity. By clearing out the mental noise, it helps break through the blocks that often stifle creative thinking.
My Journey with Journaling
I started doing my Morning Pages as soon as I learned about them. For over three weeks I got up a little earlier to write which I am proud of doing. If you’re like me, getting up early for anything other than Christmas is nothing to be happy about. Therefore, three weeks of doing so is a milestone in my opinion.
At first, I wasn’t experiencing the full benefits of Morning Pages. They’re meant to help you untangle life’s challenges, but instead, I felt stuck. There was a bunch of “I don’t have anything to write” written on the page. That is the phrase I use until things start popping into my head to write about. I was surprised that my usually chattering brain had nothing to say at all.
The other problem was that when I had something to write, it was the same things I had been writing about. There was no change in how I was feeling, or handling things.
Handwriting vs. Typing: A Crucial Difference
There was a reason the journaling wasn’t working for me: I was typing my morning pages on my computer instead of writing them out by hand. I ignored Cameron’s advice to handwrite the pages, thinking typing would suffice. But typing doesn’t engage the brain in the same way. There’s something about handwriting that allows you to process your thoughts more deeply.
When typing, my thoughts felt stifled. My mind was too busy navigating the keyboard to fully release my emotions and ideas. Also, as quick as I am on the keyboard, there were plenty of typos, which make my brain hiccup. The perils of being a writer.
That realization sent me down the proverbial rabbit hole. What was the difference between typing and handwriting? Why do we get more out of the process of pen to paper?
The Science Behind Handwritten Journaling
Studies show your brain learns more quickly and retains information longer through the process of writing by hand. It doesn’t matter what you’re learning, a-b-c’s, math, or processing through an emotional event.
Typing has made us faster, which is great for looming deadlines. The studies show; however, it does not allow your brain to process information, draw conclusions, and make connections.
Those abilities are important for working through emotional, and even traumatic events in your life. Handwriting allows your brain time to give sense and meaning to circumstances and events.
Research has also shown that handwriting your thoughts gives a sense of accomplishment, making you more satisfied with the process and adding greater value to the outcome.
Making Journaling Work for You
There are some caveats to gaining health benefits from handwriting. The first is that you can only progress through challenges when you write about both the emotion(s) you experienced and the process of figuring things out. When you work through the who, what, where, when, and why; your brain learns from the experience. It allows you to find the benefits of having gone through the experience and move beyond it.
If you only focus on the emotions, it both intensifies and ingrains those emotional responses in your memory. This can create triggers that may unwittingly recreate the same circumstances for you somewhere else. No one would want that for you, especially yourself.
Ready to boost your mental well-being through journaling? You can get started easily, and there’s good news for the tech-savvy among us. Pen to paper and stylus to tablet have the same benefits. Here is the other caveat. You must be familiar with using the stylus and tablet. Otherwise, your brain is captivated with trying to figure out how to get the technology to work. You will not get the handwriting benefits you are looking to get.
Getting Started: Your Journaling Toolkit
The journaling supplies needed are simple:
1. Pen, pencil, or stylus
2. Notepad, journal, paper, or tablet
3. Time
That last one can be the biggest challenge if you are not in the habit of making yourself a priority.
Journaling can be done at any time during your day. I like the idea of starting my day with a clear head, so the Morning Pages work for me. Your mornings may already be too full. Find a time that works for you, so you’ll be consistent with it. Maybe lunchtime gives you enough space or perhaps it’s after everyone else is in bed. This practice is not meant to create more stress in your life. So, do what works for you.
You don’t have to only journal at your “regular” time either. If you are working through something specific, bust out the journal and write it out. You deserve peace of mind and clarity of thought any time of day or night.
Reaping the Benefits of Regular Journaling
Journaling can help you clear the mental clutter. That can lead to allowing you to tackle challenges more effectively, beginning your day with clarity, and even winding down for better, more restful sleep. The benefits of regular journaling are impressive:
· You may find yourself solving problems more easily.
· That stress and anxiety, it could start melting away.
· Your emotions may become easier to handle and move through.
· Your creative mind may begin flowing more freely.
· You may even find yourself enjoying better sleep and waking up more refreshed.
Here’s the beauty of journaling – there’s no wrong way to do it. Whether you use Morning Pages to start the day or any other time, let it work for you.
Remember, no one is going to see them, so write anything you want, any way you want. You won’t be graded on your grammar and punctuation. If the words are tumbling out of you like a waterfall, go with it. If they’re dribbling out like a drippy faucet, that’s okay too. Just write it out and enjoy all the benefits.
What’s your favorite time to journal? Have you uncovered any personal insights or breakthroughs you’d love to share? Your story could inspire someone else to begin their own journaling journey, so feel free to share your insights and successes in the comments!
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