Said, Not ReadGet the appExpressive writing in 15 minutes a day
Expressive writing is writing about your thoughts and feelings without worrying about how it reads. The psychologist James Pennebaker began studying it in the 1980s.
In his studies, people wrote about something that mattered to them for 15 to 20 minutes a day, three or four days in a row.
How to try it
- Pick 15 minutes when you won't be interrupted.
- Write about something that's on your mind, big or small.
- Keep writing, and don't stop to fix anything.
- Stop when the time is up, even in the middle of a sentence.
- Come back tomorrow, to the same subject or a new one.
Write to someone
A blank page can be hard to start. Writing to a person is often easier: their name gives the writing a direction, and you stop wondering what to say next.
Keep it private
The exercise works best when you know nobody will read it. That is what lets you be honest instead of careful.
Something you need to say?
Said, Not Read makes expressive writing feel like texting. Write to a contact for as long as you like, then keep the conversation or set the messages to disappear.
Make a contact, write it out, and watch it send.
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Questions
Do I have to write about something serious?
No. Plenty of people write about a frustrating day, a crush, or a decision they keep going back and forth on.
Is it the same as journaling?
They are close. A journal often records what happened, while expressive writing stays with how you feel about it.