How to utilise writing in the morning to improve your well-being
If you are anything like me, mornings can be a struggle. You are either pressing snooze or rushing around; probably both, come to think of it. The last thing you want to fit into your already hectic schedule is writing. Let alone therapeutic writing! You promise you’ll pen a few lines on the tube after the school run, when you’re home from work, or all three, come to think of it. Let’s face it, your writing is probably the last thing on your mind when the alarm screams, “Get up!”. But what if I told you writing in the morning has some pretty nice mental health benefits? Morning words can clear your mind and set up your day for greater clarity, mental well-being, and positivity (Ok, I can hear some of you yawning at the thought, but seriously, hear me out).
Morning writing can be a powerful tool for enhancing mental health and well-being. I often encourage clients to engage in the practice first, even before getting out of bed, as it offers several benefits that contribute to a positive mindset. If you often endure a low mood, it can help to find words beneath the blankets before rising. How? Well, read on…
1. Increased purpose.
Feeling we have a purpose in life, no matter how small, improves mental well-being. In a 2020 meta-analysis, “Purpose in Life and its Relationship to Mental Health,” Marcia E.L.C. Brown and colleagues found a positive correlation between purpose and lower depression, stress, and anxiety. Giving yourself the purposeful task of daily self-improvement could lead to greater overall life satisfaction.
2. Enhanced problem-solving.
Embarking on writing before anything else deepens creativity. Zhang, Wang, and others found in their 2021 meta-analysis “The Relationship between Creativity and Problem-Solving” that the benefits of problem-solving were applicable across diverse fields, leading to better cognitive flexibility and enhanced divergent thinking, proving creativity is not just for artists but also benefits business leaders, law enforcement, politicians, and those in static roles or unemployed.
3. Sense of accomplishment.
In the 2007 study, “Goal Setting, Achievement, and Self-Esteem,” Grant and Cavanagh highlighted the importance of goal achievement in fostering positive self-image and motivation. Want to feel better about yourself? Complete a small goal each day, something difficult enough for you to risk failing, and the achievement will help you build a more robust self-image.
Moreover, morning writing can enhance emotional intelligence. By documenting feelings and thoughts, you can better understand your emotional responses, which can lead to improved relationships and social interactions.
Want to give Morning Words a go? Here’s how.
1. Set yourself up for success.
The night before, leave a pad of paper and a pen by the bed within easy reach.
2. Don’t open your mobile.
Write on paper. If you open your phone 9 times out of 10, you’ll be on social media, checking your email, and despairing over the news before you know it.
3. Get in the habit.
Setting the alarm twenty minutes earlier than normal may sound like hell, I know, but you will get used to it. Remember, twenty minutes earlier still means you can press snooze for five minutes at least once.
4. Be quick.
Write fast. Be fierce. Don’t edit.
5. Use pre-prepped-prompts.
Have a writing prompt already written down for you to explore on waking.
Morning Word prompts to get you started.
Simply choose one prompt for each morning over the next week. Write them in your journal or diary so that you are ready for when the alarm goes off!
- What would need to happen today to make it great (don’t say more sleep), and describe how that would feel?
- If you could take one personality trait into the day, what would it be and why? Who in your life personifies this trait?
- Describe the dream you had last night if you had one.
- Who do you hope to see today, and why? How will that feel?
- What is one thing you want to get out of today? How will you feel about
yourself afterwards?
- What are you feeling right now? (apart from tired)
- How do I want to feel by the end of the day?
- What is something new you want to try today?
- What is the most implausible yet brilliant thing that could happen today? How would you feel if it happened?
- What magic power would you like to take into the day ahead? Why? How would it change everything…
- If there was a monster under the bed, what would it look like? (Okay, maybe this is not therapeutic and just silly, but who cares?)
As you can see, writing on one of these prompts takes only a few minutes, yet the impact on your mental health can be significant and lasting. Establishing a morning writing routine cultivates discipline and builds self-assurance and esteem. We start to believe in ourselves a little more each day, so why not give it a shot?
Happy writing!
Alexandra
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