Did you know that writing has powerful health benefits? While most people don’t associate an activity like writing with health, picking it up as a hobby or habit in your later years has been proven to improve brain function and keep the mind sharp.
And the best part of writing? Anyone can do it! Creative writing is an easy and fun way to take care of your mental and physical health. It allows individuals to settle back and deeply reflect on their own life experiences or dream up new ones. Writing offers limitless avenues to explore, from prose to poetry. Whether you would like to write your memories into a memoir or write fictional characters that go on adventures, you receive the same health benefits.
Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of writing.
Stimulate Cognitive Function & Improve Memory Retention
If you used this as a study trick in your school days, then you know that writing something down over and over again helps you to remember it. The process of recalling something, writing it down, and reading it back on paper boosts memory and comprehension. As a result, this leads to improved cognitive processing.
However, studies have found that the creative process of crafting a story stimulates certain parts of the brain that simply copying words down on paper will not. The process of creating characters, plot, scene, dialogue, setting, and more invigorate the brain. Essentially, creating an entirely new narrative requires much more thought and creativity than rote writing. Creative writing engages the brain on a new level and forms new neural pathways and connections, keeping the brain sharp and agile.
Reduce Stress
Stress can cause and worsen a whole host of health problems. Not to mention, stress is just plain unpleasant. Finding an outlet to redirect and alleviate this stress is essential for everyone’s mental and physical wellbeing. When you are feeling overwhelmed, the last thing you want to do— or think to do— is write a short story or poem.
However, any type of writing that requires imagination helps de-stress your body and mind. Writing provides a constructive escape, providing the distraction your mind needs to decrease anxiety, stop racing thoughts, and improve your mood. As a result, when you’re ready to leave your fictional world for the real world, you’ll likely feel better and even have a fresh perspective.
Improve Sleep & Create Peace of Mind
It can be hard to get your brain to shut off and relax. Consequently, when it comes time for bed, many people lie awake with racing thoughts. Writing is a great tactic for improving your sleep cycle because it helps get those thoughts out on paper, so they are not living so much in your head.
Improve Mood
Specifically for seniors, creative writing and writing in a journal can help promote mindfulness and help older adults live in the present moment, rather than worrying what the future holds. This habit can support coming to terms with the ageing process, help cherish their memories, and celebrate the experiences of their life. Expressive writing is a powerful tool that offers a safe space for individuals to process and explore their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and impactful life experiences.
You don’t have to be an aspiring author to reap the benefits of writing, simply a willingness to pick up your pen! The Life Enrichment Center offers a variety of engaging writing classes for writers of all levels, such as: Creative Writing, Six-Week Memoir Writing, Monologues for Beginners, and the Ten-Minute Play for Beginners.
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FAQs
Creative writing engages the brain on a new level and forms new neural pathways and connections, keeping the brain sharp and agile. Stress can cause and worsen a whole host of health problems. Not to mention, stress is just plain unpleasant.
What are the mental benefits of creative writing? ›
There are many benefits of creative writing including increasing self-esteem, strengthening memory, and improving overall mental clarity.
How can creative activities impact the brain? ›
Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities stimulates the brain, increasing neuroplasticity and boosting cognitive function. This can lead to improved memory, increased problem-solving skills, and greater creativity.
What are the cognitive benefits of writing? ›
Writing is an invaluable tool for exercising our cognitive faculties. Extensive and diverse research has suggested links between writing and mental capacities in such domains as memory, critical thinking, creativity, verbal skills, and overall health.
How does creative writing help the brain? ›
Creative writing engages the brain on a new level and forms new neural pathways and connections, keeping the brain sharp and agile.
How does creative writing help with anxiety? ›
1. A study by APA showed that writing can help to relieve stress by combatting negative and intrusive thoughts. The study explains that writing about negative experiences can help you to overcome them and that, by putting your experience into perspective, you are able to concentrate on the positive as a result.
Why is creative writing powerful? ›
Creative writing forces you to arrange your ideas and put them into words. This can assist you in putting things into perspective and making better judgments. Writing also assists you in becoming more conscious of your own ideas and emotions.
What are the 3 main purposes of creative writing? ›
Creative writing can be used for entertainment, informative, or persuasive purposes. This type of writing can also be used to convey an emotion.
How does writing help your mental health? ›
Writing allows individuals to observe, monitor, and evaluate how they express and control their emotions. The sense of control over emotions that is a direct result of writing helps the writer improve their well-being and reduces negative emotions.
What are the mental benefits of creativity? ›
Expressing ourselves through creative and artistic activities can help to relieve stress and anxiety, and lessen shame, anger, and depression after experiencing a traumatic event.
The Limbic System. The limbic system is a collection of brain structures located next to the thalamus and underneath the cerebral cortex. These structures help to control our emotions and our motivations. The hippocampus and amygdala, both parts of this system, are especially relevant to creativity and imagination.
What part of your brain controls creativity? ›
Green has also found evidence that an area called the frontopolar cortex, in the brain's frontal lobes, is associated with creative thinking. And stimulating the area seems to boost creative abilities.
Is creative writing healthy? ›
Creative writing improves mental health by reducing stress and the symptoms of SUD or co-occurring mental health disorders. Sharing creative writing content with others can also increase social support, reduce loneliness, and create a sense of belonging.
Does creative writing prevent dementia? ›
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Doing mentally-stimulating activities more frequently such as taking educational classes, writing in a journal, or playing games or chess may reduce the risk of dementia, a study suggests.
How writing improves your thinking? ›
Applebee (1984) suggested that writing improves thinking because it requires an individual to make his or her ideas explicit and to evaluate and choose among tools necessary for effective discourse.
What are the mental benefits of being creative? ›
Expressing ourselves through creative and artistic activities can help to relieve stress and anxiety, and lessen shame, anger, and depression after experiencing a traumatic event.
How does writing help mental health? ›
Writing allows individuals to observe, monitor, and evaluate how they express and control their emotions. The sense of control over emotions that is a direct result of writing helps the writer improve their well-being and reduces negative emotions.
What are the emotional benefits of creative play? ›
Emotional Development
Creative play promotes children to integrate these feelings into activities so that they can creatively express their thoughts and emotions in a way they are encouraged to do so. Through this, they'll be able to articulate their thoughts and feelings more easily as they grow up.
What are the benefits of creative journaling for mental health? ›
It reduces stress and anxiety symptoms
It gives you a safe, private outlet in which to process and work through negative thoughts, so whether you're going through a difficult time or you'd simply like to manage day-to-day stress a little better, journaling can be a powerful tool.
