Writing Methods for Self-care
By Sheila Arellano
Throughout my life, writing has been linked to my mental health. I began writing stories when I was nine and started journaling when I was thirteen. Every night, I would grab paper and a pen and let my thoughts flow. Writing has served as a medium to process experiences—both good and bad. It helps me understand people and the world. During the darkest times of my life, writing has healed me.
For me, writing provides the distance I need to see my emotional state from a different perspective. When I allow myself to step back and grasp how I’m feeling, I can distinguish the roots of my emotions. Writing is like a comb that untangles the mind and heals the heart. Today, I’ll share some exercises that could help you improve your mental health through writing.
Use the Free Writing Technique
This technique is used to write continuously without judgment or expectation. For five minutes, you can take some time to write the thoughts and emotions you’re experiencing during the day. This technique can reveal certain feelings and connect you to your mind.
Write Based on Your Values
I recently came across this technique and it was quite helpful. You will write five values that are important to you on a piece of paper. Then, you will choose one. Once you’ve chosen a value (such as love, honesty, integrity, etc.), you will write about a moment in your life when you’ve experienced that value. This can ease your mind and help you recall calming memories.
Explore Your Emotions Without Judgement
This is a simple exercise where you start each sentence with the words “I feel…”. Then, you continue writing each sentence without thinking. This can reveal hidden emotions, help you work through your thoughts and lead you to understand why you’re feeling a certain way.
Make a List of Things You’re Grateful For
When you focus on the positive things in your life, you begin to change your perspective. As well, you start to appreciate where you are rather than thinking about where you’d like to be.
Write a Letter Hyping Yourself Up
I’ve done this multiple times and it’s a game-changer. Choose a day when you’re feeling confident and happy and write a letter to your sad self. Hype yourself up, write about the things you love about yourself. Describe your dreams, goals and hopes. Later on, reading this letter can help you get out of negative headspaces.
Implementing these simple writing exercises into your life can help you keep track of your mental health. Even if it seems like a small addition to your daily routine, taking five minutes to write can make a huge difference. It is also incredible to one day look back and see how far you’ve come.
Self-care is crucial, especially during these strange and isolated times. I hope these suggestions lead you to better understand yourself, others and the world. Please leave your writing tips for mental health in the comments below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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