Write it down!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the thoughts in your head? That the ideas, the plans and the exciting enthusiasms feel like they need to bust out? You are not alone. Half the internet is awash with people trying to make sense of everything in their brains, while the other half claims to have the one-stop-shop answer to all problems.

Over the years, I’ve found myself going back to the same old solution to ‘overwhelm’: writing it down. According to neuroscientists, writing everything down helps you externalise thoughts. Put simply, this frees up mental space so you can think more clearly and concentrate better. You don’t have to waste valuable energy remembering everything nor do you have to endure the same thoughts circling around your head. Instead, your life is captured on the pages of a notebook, diary or journal. And this means you can be more present and at ease in the moment without worrying that you’re forgetting something, that your latest amazing idea will be lost to the sands of time.

​Taking it a step further, research shows that taking time to self-reflect, appreciate what’s going well, and create a vision for your future boosts well-being. And writing by hand engages multiple senses — visual, kinaesthetic, and tactical — which helps commit tasks to memory. It also signals to your brain that your goals are important, making you more likely to follow through.

As with most things that work, it’s very simple: pick up a pen and write it down.

I’m running a bullet journal workshop this Saturday in Caversham Park Village, where you can learn how to track the past, plan the future, and organise the present – all with copious amounts of stationery and inspirational ideas to fire your creativity. Everyone is welcome! Details and booking here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bullet-journal-workshop-tickets-54449933216.
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