Writing can be immensely therapeutic. There is no limit to what you can write about to get the benefits of relieving stress. Taking just 5-10 minutes a day to write your thoughts down may clear up anxiety, frustrations, and annoyances. Here are some tips on how to use writing as a tool for stress relief.

Writing for Clarity

When your mind is racing, sometimes it’s best to get things from your brain onto a page to process your thoughts. No matter what you’re doing, thinking, or feeling, writing can help visualize your emotions and put things in perspective. It’s also a great distraction to take your mind off things for a while. Here are some activities that you can do when you’re feeling overwhelmed:

Create a to-do list and start checking things off. This can be extremely helpful if you’re having a hectic day and are struggling to know which chore to take on first. Once you see the tasks all laid out in front of you, it becomes easier to tackle. It’s even more relieving when you see all the things you accomplished. If you’re working through a problem, make a pros and cons list or simply start working through it on paper. This shows possible solutions and will create a clearer path. Write down your feelings in freewriting form to sort out and understand the bigger picture. It is like talking to a friend and is good for releasing some weight off your shoulders.

Writing for Personal Growth

Instead of only writing when you’re stressed, implementing writing into your everyday life may improve your overall mood. There are many everyday journals available to buy online or in stores with guided questions, reflections, self-care, and activities that encourage positivity and mindfulness. 

Of course, there are no obligations to buy a guided journal if you want to start journaling. Grab any pen and paper to record your reflections and answers. Here are some prompts to help you get started on your own. 

• What are you most grateful for this week?
• How can you become the best version of yourself?
• What is one stressor that you can let go of?
• What habits do you want to change?
• How can you have a better day tomorrow than you did today?

And if prompts aren’t your thing, that’s okay too. Keeping a journal means getting to write whatever you want. It documents your life and you might even learn a bit more about who you are in the process.

Writing for Fun

Writing can also be used as a creative outlet. Hobbies help reduce stress and increase endorphins. Reading is often used as an escape from reality, but so can creating your own worlds and characters from scratch. Much like guided journals, there are also journals with different creative prompts every day. All you need though is yourself and a desire to create.

Bullet journals are also a great way to spend hours in a relaxed place. There are many different things you can write in a bullet journal including tracking your moods, ranking your favorite movies, compiling a list of your favorite things, or making collages of anything and everything. Click here for more ideas on how to get started on your very own bullet journal.

Take some time for yourself today and write. You may just find your new favorite way to destress.