Writing by hand
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Ask almost anyone you know how they are, and the response is likely to be: "busy". Our inboxes are bursting with emails. Appointments and social events keep stacking up. Family woes, work worries and money matters make our minds work overtime. Not to mention commuting, pollution and the "million and one things" to remember.Add to this the uncertain political times we live in and, well, it's not surprising that many people feel overwhelmed.

Life is fast-paced. And it can be difficult to slow down - especially if being busy is effectively masking anxiety, grief and hard-to-handle emotions.

The end result of all of this seems to be widespread depression. According to The World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. They estimate that more than 300 million people are living with depression.

There is no fast-fix for depression, nor for other forms of mental illness. However, creativity is a remedy - a tonic that can help bring about real change. And many hospitals have arts programs to help patients heal.

Creative writing can be especially effective, as all you need is a notebook and a pen. It's cheap and can pretty much be done anytime and anywhere. In fact, physicians have long known about the healing power of words. In Ancient Egypt, words were put onto papyrus, dissolved and then drunk so that they could take immediate effect.

Much more recently, psychology professor James Pennebaker found that expressive writing (writing about thoughts and feelings) led to fewer doctor visits and even a short-term boost in the immune system.

Positive psychology researcher Megan Hayes looks at wellbeing from a broader perspective, arguing that it cannot simply be measured in terms of doctor visits. She proposes that creative writing can build "positive emotion, engagement and meaning" while also alleviating mental suffering. Whatever school of thought you subscribe to, writing can help you to be well.

So, when the going gets tough, the tough ought to get writing. Here are three ways that you can use writing to increase your wellbeing.

1. Write morning pages

If you don't already journal about your feelings, then a good place to start is by writing morning pages. Made popular by Julia Cameron, morning pages are three pages of longhand writing first thing in the morning. The idea is to just get all your niggling thoughts and feelings out onto the page - in a giant brain dump.

Julia describes the pages as being like taking a whisk broom and sweeping away your voice-over. This is the mental chatter that we all have. And writing in this way helps you to see more objectively what you think about. It's hard to ignore your thoughts when you keep writing them down every morning.

2. Tap into your artist's brain

If you already journal, go one step further by actively encouraging more creative self-expression in your writing. A good way to do this is to do activities that tap into your artist-brain (that is, the right side of the brain). So, make the most of the downtime you DO have by doing things such as chopping up vegetables, driving, walking, taking a shower and running. Do these just before you write, and they'll boost your creativity. This will help your thoughts and feelings to flow onto the page, making it easier to express yourself and write about the things that really matter to YOU

3. Always carry around a notebook and pen

Get into the habit of never leaving the house without a notebook and pen. Writing by hand accesses a different part of the brain than typing. Even on a busy train, you can whip out a notebook and write down what you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell. You can also jot down how you feel and the movement around you. Focusing on your senses in this way is very grounding. It stops your mind from racing and it stops you from mindlessly scrolling on social media.

In short, writing your way to wellbeing is about feeling that you have the tools and techniques you need to thrive and not just survive. So, over to you: can you write yourself well?
About The Author

Greta Solomon is a London-based speaker, author and business writing trainer, helping high-achievers to write their way to more personal and professional success.