3 ways blogging can reduce stress during trying times
“The most simple things can bring the most happiness.”
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In times of uncertainty, there comes a point when it becomes necessary to step away from the news updates and social media posts and look at what remains in our control.
If you already have no problem stepping away from those things, that’s great! Many people do struggle with this though, especially if their jobs require them to be online or plugged into their phones for most of the day or during their shift.
Getting out of your own head can be very beneficial.
Here are three small ways blogging (and writing in general) can help you in times of struggle.
Here is a small starting point to help you to begin generating more ideas.
1. Writing about what you’re feeling gives you some distance from perceived pain
What we’re saying here, is that writing what you’re feeling gives you some space from your feelings.
What does that mean, and why should I believe it?
The action of writing brings presence to a situation.
Some experts suggest writing in the third person. That means in the format of, “Holly feels happy today…” instead of, “I feel happy today.”
It has been said that writing in the third person gives the writer a mental opportunity to step away from their perceived pain and experience it from a place of neutrality.
It might be more possible to see the hope in a situation when doing this small exercise.
At the very least, you will be able to look at things from a slightly different perspective.
For example, write about your entire day in the third person.
Note the events of the day, how you felt about it, how long the feeling lasted, others who were involved, and also the amount of time you had these feelings.
Note the setting, the way the weather looked, the people around you, the way your feelings went up and down.
Taking note of all the external circumstances and surroundings can often offset the negative feelings you have about the situation because it brings you presence of mind.
Being in the present moment has power and will help get you through the tough times.
2. Writing and blogging can help you map out possible solutions to perceived problems
A very simple exercise that can be done to solve problems would be to create a chart.
You might section off the chart into three parts:
List the problem;
list what you can or cannot change about it;
then list possible solutions to the problem.
Related: Grab your legal blogging template for your website!
The action of separating these thoughts into segmented boxes can actually help your brain make sense of what’s going on.
When you identify what you cannot change about a situation, you give yourself permission to let go of that aspect of the problem, and move forward into the “possible solutions” category.
Any time you can break a huge problem into smaller chunks is good, because you can then take baby steps to tackle things one at a time.
3. Writing can help you release pent-up feelings and mental clutter
Some experts say that doing a morning “brain dump” can help people become more effective communicators and productive human beings.
A brain dump can be done by taking a pen and paper, and then writing down any random notes, ideas, reminders, or triggers that set you off. I talked about this during the 7-Day Creativity Boost Challenge.
The act of writing them down is said to release you from being held captive by your own thoughts.
Have you ever noticed that a problem will seem bigger when you sit around and let it marinate over and over in your mind?
When you release these thoughts onto paper, or inside a digital document of your choice, your brain can then move on to solve other problems.
Getting stuck on problems is not going to be beneficial to you when it comes to other things you are bound to encounter throughout the day.
In times of stress, it is important to remember to get your mind clear, on paper, and sort your thoughts.
As mentioned in #2, you can then find solutions to problems more easily when you identify what you can and cannot change about the situation.
*Tip: If you like to work digitally instead of on pen and paper, you should check out Trello. It’s a tool that will let you create boards, lists, and cards to organize your ideas. It’s very useful for planning online content, or even daily to-do lists.
Although the information mentioned here is brief, it’s notable to add that just taking small actions to improve your mental health does add up.
I’ve gathered some additional resources below for those who are looking for more.
If you found this information valuable, please feel free to share it!
Additional resources:
Studies have shown that expressing yourself through art can help with depression and anxiety and is linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience.
“The beneficial effects of creating aren't dependent on a person's skill or talents - It's the process, not the product.” (Harvard Health, 2017).
An easy method for getting creative is practicing "Zentangles". Zentangles are “created with repetitive patterns and are meant to be abstract.” They are supposed to encourage mindfulness, intuitive thinking, and empowerment. See the aforementioned link to view the Zentangles video!
Related reading:
7 ways I improved my mental health
30-Day Mental Health Challenge
The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst