The Surprising Power of Putting Pen to Paper

Imagine if a simple habit could lower your stress, help you sleep better, and even boost your mood. You don’t need an expensive gadget or a prescription. All you need is 5-minutes before bed. Sounds too simple, right?.

We live in a world of typing and tapping. Our phones hold our grocery lists, our computers store our thoughts, and our thumbs move faster than our brains sometimes.

But here’s the thing: when it comes to journaling, writing by hand is a completely different experience (and science agrees).

🖊️ Writing Slows You Down (In the Best Way)

Typing is fast. Almost too fast. Your fingers can spew words onto a screen before your brain has a chance to feel them.

Writing, on the other hand, makes you pause. You have to form the letters, drag the pen, and move at a human pace. That slowness creates space to think. Space to breathe. Space to actually process what you’re feeling instead of just off-loading it like an angry email draft.

🧠 It Changes Your Brain

This isn’t just woo-woo feel-good talk. Studies have shown that handwriting lights up different parts of the brain than typing. It activates memory, learning, and emotional regulation centers. Researchers at the University of Texas found that expressive writing, literally putting your feelings on paper, can lower stress and boost your mood.

And who doesn’t need that??

Every time you write, you’re strengthening the mind-body connection and training your brain to process life in a deeper, healthier way.

💛 Writing Feels More Personal

There’s something raw about handwriting. It’s messy. It’s full of cross-outs and doodles in the margins. It looks like you.And that messy, human touch makes journaling by hand feel more real.

A typed file could be deleted, edited, formatted, or shared. A handwritten page? It’s a snapshot of you in that exact moment: ink stains, smudges, and all.

📵 No Notifications, No Distractions

When you’re journaling on paper, you’re not competing with your phone buzzing or a new email pinging. It’s just you, your pen, and your thoughts. That kind of peace is rare these days, and it’s exactly why writing feels so grounding.

🌙 The Power of Journaling Before Bed (this is the BEST part)

If you really want to feel the magic, try journaling at night. Studies show that writing before bed helps calm racing thoughts, lowers stress, and can actually improve sleep quality (!!!). Instead of lying awake replaying the day’s events, you “download” those thoughts onto a page. It’s like handing them off, so your brain can finally rest.

A quick nightly journal can:

Quiet the “mental chatter” that keeps you awake.
Help you process what went well (and what didn’t).
Create a bedtime ritual that signals your body it’s safe to relax.
Leave you waking up lighter and more refreshed.

It’s like brushing your teeth for your mind. It’s kind of like washing away the day so you can fall asleep a little more peacefully.

✨ So, Why Not Both?

Typing has its place for brainstorming projects, drafting content, or blasting out words quickly. But when it comes to your feelings, your hopes, and your messy thoughts? That’s pen-on-paper territory.

🌸 Make It Simple with a Prompted Journal

Here’s the truth: staring at a blank page can feel intimidating. That’s why I recommend starting with a prompted journal. Prompts give you gentle guidance so you’re not left wondering what to write. Instead, you get a question or theme to reflect on that is designed to nudge you toward insight, healing, or gratitude without feeling overwhelmed.

And the good news: I created journals designed exactly for this purpose. They’re packed with thoughtful prompts to make journaling easy, meaningful, and… dare I say… fun? If you’ve ever wanted to start journaling but didn’t know where to begin, a prompted journal is the perfect place.

Bottom line: Writing in a journal isn’t just nostalgic, it’s therapeutic. It slows your mind and gives you the space to process. Try it tonight, right before bed, and you’ll see how well it works!

👉 And if you want a little help getting started, check out one of my prompted journals online. I have created journals for just about everyone (and I’m not finished)! They’ll guide you step by step toward peace and maybe even your best night’s sleep yet.