Note: This blog post was originally written the “old fashioned way”… pen to paper!

Remember the “good ‘ol days” when you would sit with a pen and a paper (usually a journal) and pour out your innermost thoughts? It was such an effective way to make sense of things or safely vent. Now, things are so different. We now can post online or blog, and suddenly our journal becomes a platform for anyone to read and comment on. It’s really taken the personal touch out of connecting.

Research supports this as well. When we use a pen to write and express our thoughts, we gain more ownership of our emotions. Additionally, taking notes by writing them out helps to retain more information. Maybe our teachers were on to something, after all! Check out http://mentalfloss.com/article/33508/4-benefits-writing-hand

Don’t think you need to jump head first into journal writing. Start small. Each night, try to set aside 15 minutes of personal, independent time (and the longer you are able to, the better!). Unplug from all electronics and find something to do that you enjoy, that helps you relax. At the end of the allotted time, write one good thing about your day. It’s a great reminder that even on the worst of days there can be something positive!

Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/when-only-a-pen-will-do/