Regular writing, especially writing about your thoughts and feelings, has been linked in research to a better memory, clearer thinking, better communication, fewer symptoms of some illnesses, progress toward your goals, a stronger immune response, and even a faster return to work after losing a job.
Some people are born to write: they love it, whatever the subject. Others write only when they have to, for work or for school. Those who enjoy writing have an advantage, because writing is good for your health, especially when you do it often.
Psychologists have studied expressive writing, writing about your thoughts and feelings, for decades, and many studies have found health benefits. Even if you see writing as hard work, or only write as part of your job, it is still good for you, and it can be fun. If you only write when you have to, the 7 benefits below may change your mind, and there are a few more at the end.
1. It improves your memory
If you want a better memory, start writing more often. In one study, students wrote about their thoughts and feelings about starting college. Seven weeks later, their working memory had improved, compared with students who had written about trivial topics. One explanation is that writing about your worries frees up space in your mind. Writing like this also reduces worry and stress.
2. It sharpens your thinking
People who write often train their thinking as they work. Research in education has linked reflective journaling, writing regularly about what you have learned and experienced, to better critical thinking and reasoning. The more you write about different topics, the better informed you become about them.
3. It improves communication
People who write well often communicate better with others and find it easier to express themselves. Writing is connected to the way you speak: the better you can put your thoughts on paper, the better you can explain them to the people around you. Your relationships can benefit, too.
4. It can improve lung function
Writing about stress can even help your body. In one study, patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis wrote about the most stressful experiences of their lives. Months later, the asthma patients' lung function had improved and the arthritis patients' symptoms had eased, compared with patients who wrote about neutral topics. Writing does not replace medical treatment, but it can be a helpful addition.
5. It helps you reach your goals
If you have goals you want to reach, write more often. In one study, people who kept a journal of things they were grateful for made more progress toward their personal goals than people who wrote about hassles or neutral events. Other studies found that expressive writing can raise students' grade point averages.
6. It strengthens your immune system
Writing may even support your immune system. In one study, people who wrote about traumatic experiences showed better cellular immune function than people who wrote about neutral topics. Another study found similar results with 40 medical students who had tested negative for hepatitis B antibodies. All of them received a hepatitis B vaccine. Some wrote about traumatic experiences, and the others about neutral topics. Those who wrote about their traumatic experiences had a stronger response to the vaccine.
7. It can improve your job prospects
Everyone wants a good job or better job prospects, and writing can help. In one study, 63 unemployed professionals took part. Some wrote about neutral topics; the others wrote about their thoughts and feelings about losing their jobs. Those who wrote about their job loss found new jobs much faster than those who wrote about neutral topics. Other research found that expressive writing reduced how often employees were absent from work.
More benefits of writing
Besides these 7 benefits, writing more often helps in other ways. Keeping a gratitude journal can make you feel more grateful. Writing can help you cope with and recover from upsetting and traumatic experiences. Studies of expressive writing have even reported better athletic performance and lower blood pressure.
So if you want to feel healthier and think more clearly, start writing. Ideas for a first habit: writing as a stress relief, stoic journaling, or simply writing by hand.