How can writing improve your life?

A series of books, journals and a tablet with a pencil and cup of tea. Image courtesy of Pexels

I find that writing, no matter what the project, can really help if you’re having a rough time. So often lately, I encounter people who seem to struggle with just… being, and having to put on a show and seem normal, all for appearances. When actually a person could be really struggling.

When I was doing my MPhil and was nose deep in research, I was incredibly unhappy at times. I hadn’t managed to upgrade to a PhD and I’d spent so much time trying, that I was at a crossroads. I’d wanted for so long to do a PhD and academic research, that to be told I’d never achieve that, it marked a turning point. I’d never upgrade, and I could always quit and cut my losses, return to the US and trying to find a new path. But I wasn’t a quitter. Even so, to only continue to work hard, only to get an MPhil (a research degree) that no one outside of academia knows what it is anyway… You see the conundrum. All this was affecting my mental health.

At the same time, I’d spotted this thing called NaNoWriMo and decided to give it a go. I’d been studying medieval history so much, I’d gotten a few fun story ideas and thought I’d love to jot some of them down. So I turned to writing, specifically creative writing. And it took off from there.

So when I spotted this request for comment about writing and journaling, I thought I’d respond. So if you fancy having a read, check it out:

https://medium.com/@Kim-KBMWriting/5-ways-writing-improves-your-life-7b0bfeba59da

This was my quote: “I write because I love it. I can’t imagine not doing it,” says E.L. Johnson, bestselling historical mystery author. “Writing, be it journaling, blogging, poetry, plays, or anything, can help a person decompress and relax after a long day. It can help them get out their thoughts and feelings, especially if they’re feeling stressed or mentally exhausted. Sometimes, just the act of pretending everything is okay and being ‘normal’ can be tiring. So, I encourage anyone to take that step and pick up a pen or pull open a computer and start writing. You never know where it will lead.”