By Veronica Hoac
What do you do to relieve your stress? Of all the times I ask my friends this question, I receive a multitude of different answers, like listening to music, taking a walk, meditating, and more. They’re all fantastic methods, but I have yet to hear anyone mention one specific activity: writing. Surprised? Research has shown that taking the time to do some writing for yourself can actually have a tremendously positive effect on the brain as writing is another form of self-liberation. Letting words flow out onto paper or even forcing yourself to gives you a physical form of your inner emotions. This can promote important reflection and acceptance within oneself, or it can just be for fun! One of the best ways to get in the habit of writing is to set aside about twenty minutes once every few days to write continuously without nitpicking grammar or spelling. You could take this time to write about anything! Some examples could be things you’re grateful for, complicated feelings, or even a creative story. Keeping it in a specific designation like a journal would create a special place for your writing. If you’ve never given yourself time to write for yourself—not for teachers or colleges—then I would definitely recommend giving this a try. It may just become another tool to help reduce your stress!