We love to celebrate the art of all things handwritten at Dryden Designs and have discovered that there is no better way to reconnect with your inner wisdom than through jotting down your thoughts and journaling.
When it comes to stress relief and mental clarity, writing and mindfulness go hand in hand – both present the opportunity to clear the mind of thoughts and worries.
Mindfulness is a very simple form of meditation that has seen a surge of popularity in the past few years. It refers to a state of being aware of something, a way of reconnecting with a moment at any given time. The same principle applies to mindful writing - it allows for a string of consciousness to feed the writing.
It's become well recognised amongst psychologists and schools that just a few minutes handwriting a day can be an effective way of helping you unwind, making it the perfect preparation for any meditation and an excellent way to unleash your creativity and innermost feelings.
When you write it contributes to feelings of wellbeing – it can alleviate mental and physical stress and clarify thoughts. Keeping a regular diary or journal for example can help fight the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Handwriting is a great workout for your brain - numerous studies, such as this one from Psychology Today, have shown that writing by hand makes use of areas of the brain involved in language, thinking and working memory. It helps your brain remember key facts and information by organising your thoughts and focussing the mind.
As it’s a slower and more deliberate process than using a laptop or tablet, the very act of writing - by using multiple pen strokes to form letters - allows the brain to process and retain the thoughts and ideas being committed to paper.
To help get you started with writing for mindfulness, we present our top tips to ensure you get the very most (and best) from your new daily cursive routine.