16 REASONS TO TAKE UP THE POWER OF THE PEN AND WRITE…

Most of my readers also write blogs but I bet many have not really thought about the benefits of putting pen to paper and how much you can do with it. Well, here are 16 reasons you should take up the power of the pen and write more.

1. Every night write down the errands you need to do for the following day. You will be surprised how satisfying it feels and clears your mind for a better night’s sleep. I always write ideas for my posts the following day.
2. Writing helps you to sit with your thoughts and get to know yourself better. Pen and paper are very soothing and can take you to another place.
3. It increases your self-understanding and empathy and allows great mental focus which gives us the time to enter a creative stage and improve our physical health.
4. A landmark study found that those who wrote for 20 minutes a day for four days had a marked improvement in their mood and visited the GP less than those who were not writing regularly.
5. It is one of the most easily accessible and adaptable things you can enjoy doing. You can write anywhere and everywhere.
6. I stopped thinking I am not capable of being a writer as I have written thousands of blog posts over the years so I must be quite good at it.
7. Writing is not just for one type of individual it is for everyone. It is a way of communicating, self-discovery, creativity, spirituality and self-expression.
8. Do not think your writing has to be grammatically correct. I was useless at English at school and didn’t even pass it at ‘o’ level. Just enjoy the thought of putting down what is on your mind and you will find it transformative.
9. Expressive Writing (writing about your innermost thoughts and emotions) has been used to help people process trauma, heartbreak, bereavement, illness and pain.
10. Write down your struggles, it becomes more real and can help your family and friends to understand your situation. It can also validate something by making it real. It can encourage a shift in your thinking when it is all written down.
11. When you write all your thoughts down you will realise how many pointless thoughts are taking up space in your brain and it will feel a release to get rid of them.
12. Writing down the good things that have gone on throughout your day can also be very beneficial and can make you feel so much better.
13. Buy yourself some beautiful notebooks to write in. They will encourage you to write and will look pretty left out in your room. I have them bought for me by friends and family every birthday.
14. Write about whatever is going on in your mind and see where it takes you. It may surprise you as it triggers off other thoughts.
15. Use the good old-fashioned notebook and pen as it encourages you to take your time about what you want to write about allowing you to focus on each word.
16. Research has shown that 20 minutes a day, writing most days is ideal but even a couple of minutes a day can be worthwhile. Never feel you ‘have’ to write or it will take the enjoyment out of it. I am a list person and have a couple of lovely notebooks around the house which I look at every day and love crossing things off and adding more. It is part of my daily routine. The most important thing is to enjoy it.