How to Write yourself Well

How to use writing as a tool to increase your well-being.

We’re living through challenging times. We all seem to be busy, and stressed a lot of the time. We all have lists of things that need to get done, get accomplished, endless emails, money worries and work problems. We’re overworked and it can seem to be a never-ending cycle a lot of the time. And that is just our own lives. Outside of our own lives, the world itself too seems uncertain, and - with climate challenges and wars and political upheaval - it even seems scary sometimes to contemplate the future.

So is it any wonder so many of us feel helpless and overwhelmed.

Of course, there is no fast-track solution for any of this. However, I do think we have a very powerful and uniquely human tool at our disposal to help us through tough times, to express our humanity and even strive to transcend it. And that is our creativity.

Human beings have used their creativity to try and make sense of the world, to tell stories, to heal to remember and transform our lives and those who come after us (we hope) since our earliest days. Since our prehistoric caveman days. Just look at the many examples of cave paintings we know about, such as the famous ones at Lascaux in France. Or consider the sculptures and temples of ancient Rome, the grandeur of medieval churches, of palaces, and mosques, the works of Leonardo, and Da Vinci or any number of famous artists, writers and poets.

But our creativity as humans, the creativity that runs deep through our veins and very being, each and every one of us, also has a very simple yet profound effect on our well-being. There are many studies on this ( this one published by the National Library of Medicine in 2021 is just one of many) but we don’t need to be told by academic studies what we can already know and observe in our everyday lives.

We feel happier when we allow ourselves the chance to express ourselves creatively. Even when we rearrange the sitting room or lay and decorate the table just so, we are expressing ourselves creatively. We do it naturally and without thinking in our everyday tasks.

However, we can also use creativity in a more conscious, focused way to deliberately improve our well-being ( just look at the many hospitals and institutions who use various forms of art therapy to help their patients heal). And the simplest, most accessible way of all to do this, is by simply putting pen to paper.

Expressive writing for health and wellness is cheap and effective. And best of all, you can do it almost anywhere and anytime, with just a pen and a notebook at hand.

But how, you ask? Well here are three ways in which you can utilise expressive (creative) writing to boost your wellbeing, improve your mental health and work through problems and complicated emotions.

“We feel happier when we allow ourselves the chance to express ourselves creatively.”

Journalling

Keeping a journal is a powerful way to use your creativity for your wellbeing. Writing out your daily happenings and concerns will help you work through any problems, gives you a lot of clarity and provides a record to look back on, to help you identify what is going well and what can be improved in your life.

There are many ways to journal, so you can experiment and see what works for you. Perhaps you prefer to take some time at the end of the day to journal, or write in short little moments throughout the day. You might not journal every day, but take some time at the weekend to write about the week you’ve had instead. You might prefer a simple plain notebook or have an elaborate system of colours and tabs. It might be very private or you might like to share (parts ) with a significant other.

However way you want to journal, the most important part it to make it a regular practice, as often as you can.

Gratitude Practice

The habit of writing down a list of things you are grateful for each day can really boost your overall wellbeing and identify areas of your life which are happiest/easiest and where you struggle. Spend a couple of minutes at the beginning or end of your day to write down three or so things you are grateful for - it can be a simple as expressing gratitude that you have a roof over your head tonight, or the cookie you had. You will soon begin to notice patterns and focusing on the positive aspects of your day, no matter how small can shift your inner attention away from negative emotions which in turn can lead to increased happiness and positive emotions as well as overall satisfaction in your life.

Create a habit of regular journal writing

Creating a regular writing habit is the single quickest and easiest way to improve your wellbeing. Make sure you never go anywhere without a pen and notebook in your bag so you can always easily jot down your thoughts, ideas and feelings. An no, using the app on your phone is not the same. Writing by hand accesses a different, and I would say a deeper, more intuitive, part of the brain than typing does.

And make sure not to overcomplicate it. Even when you’re on the bus or train, or waiting outside the school in the car, just writing down your thoughts, or simple what you see or hear or smell right then opens those creative pathways and gets you more in touch with your inner self in a positive way. It opens you up to yourself, to new thoughts, new possibilities, in the same way that endlessly scrolling on your phone closes you off, numbs you to yourself.

So, what are you waiting for? Give yourself the gift of a regular writing practice and engage with your creativity to increase your overall wellbeing.