by Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published Fall 2006, Maine Women's Journal

You have two dozen cookies to bake, a stack of cards to mail and a pile of presents to wrap. Meanwhile, you’re frantically trying to complete a project for your boss, and the kids are waiting (not so patiently) for dinner. Balancing work and family can be challenge under normal circumstances. With the added pressures of the holidays, life can feel a little overwhelming. One solution? Journal writing. It can be done anywhere, at your convenience, and it’s a recognized wellness promoter.

Writing has proven health benefits. In one study, patients with asthma or arthritis wrote for twenty minutes, three times a week, describing stressful experiences in their lives. The individuals with arthritis had a 28% decrease in their symptoms after several months of writing regularly. Asthma patients experienced a 19% decrease in symptoms after only two weeks. Describing the difficulties in their lives allowed these patients to heal themselves.

Patients who suffer from physical pain or illness are not the only ones who benefit from writing. This form of emotional expression has been used successfully in people who are afflicted with mental illness, homelessness and varying types of abuse. These individuals often find it much easier to tell their stories on paper than in person.

As advantageous as it may be, it can be hard to get started with journal writing. Often, the biggest problem is getting it on your personal agenda. There are two approaches to this. One is to schedule twenty minutes (or so) daily for journaling. The other is to use “found time.” Some mornings you may plan on driving to your favorite oceanside spot, where you can jot down a few paragraphs before going to work. Other days, keep your journal nearby so you can record your observations on life between appointments.

Whether you’re using between-appointment opportunities or scheduled intervals to write, the next step is to ignore your inner critic. Don’t worry about your spelling or grammar: you won’t be sharing your words with others (unless you want to). Your time and your thoughts are your own.

Reclaiming your time, and jotting your thoughts in a journal, is the best gift you can give yourself. It’s an effective, enjoyable holiday and life-stress reliever. The cookies, presents and cards can wait as you put pen to paper—though you may want to feed the kids first!

(Adapted from Parent & Family newspaper, October/November 2000)