Many people rave about the benefits of writing a diary or journal. I’ve been using writing as a healing tool throughout my life. While I won’t go into specifics in this article, writing has helped me to process several challenging life situations. What I’ve realised since engaging in research and studies (more about that later) is writing helps me to escape my overactive mind and get back into my physical body. The more I’ve studied the nervous system, the more I realise my mind is always switched on. Doing nothing and simply being is challenging for me.

What makes people love or hate writing

When it comes to writing daily, I often experience extremes when speaking with people. Some people swear by a daily writing practice and have identified how this increases their well-being. Others only see a point in writing if they have an outcome in mind (a book, for example). The more we talk I realise they typically have all kinds of ideas about writing, including:

• There’s no point in writing unless you’re a good writer (which is highly subjective)
• They have a romanticised version of what writing should look like (essential oils, soft music playing in the background, looking out over the ocean and pretty writing supplies or journals)
• They don’t have time in their schedule to write because their to-do list is already jam-packed

People who love the idea of writing but have no idea where to start

This is a cohort I’m seeing more and more. They’re people who’ve read lots of research about the benefits of writing, which tends to focus on expressive writing. These findings from a research study fascinate me:

“Five months after writing, a significant interaction emerged such that writing about trauma, one’s best possible self, or both were associated with decreased illness compared with controls.” Read more about The Health Benefits of Writing about Life Goals study.

If you Google ‘writing benefits,’ you’ll find a plethora of evidence about the benefits of writing.

Incorporating writing into our busy lives

In 2022, I became a certified Embodied Processing Practitioner. Embodied processing is a body-based approach to working with trauma created by trauma therapists Ryan Hassan and Matt Nettleton. The course covers the nervous system and trauma. Taking the course was a real game-changer for me personally because I began to connect the dots in terms of my own struggles. It also helped me to see how and why writing has played such a pivotal role in my life.

I’m passionate about providing people with practical tools they can use in their daily lives. Unlike other modalities, writing is available on a 24/7 basis and is incredibly accessible; grab a pen and paper or something to type with, and you’re good to go. I am a big believer in professional support and services like therapy, but regardless of the support people access, there will be times when they are alone. I’ve been there… waking up at 3am with racing thoughts. There’s no one to call, but a pen and paper are always handy. The tools/techniques I teach don’t replace any professional medical treatment you are currently receiving, intend to seek or have been recommended to seek – they are complementary and a handy part of your toolkit.

Write Your Way to Healing Quick Start Guide PDF

My Write Your Way to Healing Quick Start Guide teaches busy people like you how to use embodied writing as a healing tool. By ’embodied writing,’ I mean being aware of the physical body while writing. In just five easy-to-follow steps, this PDF arms you with the basics for writing your way to healing and includes writing prompts to get you started. Set aside 10 minutes daily (or whatever you can manage) to write. Both seasoned writers and novices can benefit from this approach to writing. Set aside 10 minutes daily (or whatever you can manage) to write. 

Click here to download the PDF for free (no strings attached). The first page outlines the process in five quick steps, and the second gives you writing prompts to get you started. If you enjoy using the PDF and feel others can benefit from these teachings, please share the link far and wide.

This PDF resource is perfect for you if…

• You like the idea of writing but can’t seem to establish a regular writing practice that works for you
• You journal off and on, but it never sticks
• You enjoy writing but are time poor 
• You’re busy with your career or business and don’t have a lot of time for self-care
• You’re a loving parent who always puts their own self-care last
• You’ve read all of the science about the benefits of writing, but you have no idea where to start
• You’re going through a challenging period or situation in life
• You’re looking for a modality to complement the professional support you’re seeking
• You struggle with your feelings and emotions
• You feel like an observer looking in on your own life
• You feel stuck or lost
• You struggle with other self-care practices, such as meditation

I always enjoy hearing how you are implementing the tools and techniques I teach. Reach out anytime, and I’ll respond asap.