“Inner peace,” I whispered, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, as my stepchildren barreled up and down the stairs for the third time in the ten minutes I’d been trying to meditate.

“I am calm,” I muttered, as I pushed the cat off my yoga mat for the sixth time, and redirected my attention back to the computer screen, hoping I hadn’t missed a pose.

“This, too, shall pass,” I growled from behind clenched teeth as the neighbors fired up their weed eater at 7:50am for the fourth straight day in a row.

“How are you doing?” my sister texted.

“I’M LOSING MY FREAKING MIND!” I text-screamed in response. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Perhaps you relate to this. You, like me, are desperate to find ways to maintain your sanity during these unprecedented times. More and more, I find myself gravitating toward writing – and not just because that’s my profession, but because it’s one of the only times during the day when I can truly immerse myself in something other than my struggles. 

Writing has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and decrease symptoms associated with chronic illnesses. And if ever there was a time we need to strengthen both our emotional reserves and our immune systems, it’s now, as we are well into our second month of sheltering-in-place here in the Bay Area. The COVID-19 virus has reshaped our lives and changed our world, and while every person’s reaction will be different, we are all affected in ways that are real and that matter. 

You may not be feeling quite so loving toward those loved ones you’ve been cooped up with for so long. You may be grieving the loss of predictable routines, fuming over cancelled trips, or terrified of what the future holds. Whatever your particular challenges, you need a break, an outlet, and possibly a new way of coping. Writing provides all that and more. 

“But, I’m not a writer,” you might protest. “I can’t write a poem, much less a short story or a book.”

You don’t have to be a writer to benefit from writing. And you don’t need to emerge from this pandemic with a Pulitzer Prize–winning novel to justify spending time writing. Expressive writing isn’t about generating a product…much like yoga, it’s about the process, the pauses, and allowing yourself the opportunity for reflection. 

Getting Started

First, decide how you want to write. There is no shortage of options:

• with a pen and paper
• in a journal with a cover that speaks to you
• on your computer
• on the Notes app or a similar app on your phone

Then, set aside 15 minutes a day. Pick a time that increases the likelihood you’ll follow through – meaning, if you aren’t a morning person, don’t commit to writing at 6am. The actual time you choose to write doesn’t matter; it can be in the morning, afternoon, evening, or late at night. It’s about what works best for you, not what time you think ought to work. 

Writing Tips to Reduce Stress 

1. Keep a journal. Perhaps this is something you used to do as a child but haven’t done in years. You don’t have to start each entry with, “Dear Diary” (unless you want to). You don’t have to write a whole page, or even a paragraph (again, unless you want to). Journal entries can be anything: grammatically correct sentences that flow into a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end, or just a few words jotted down bullet-point style. Consider journaling about the following:
   • your feelings in a given moment
   • something you saw on a walk
   • things you’re thankful for
   • something you learned today
   • something you want to let go of
   • something you want to remember

2. Try a new type of writing. Have you always secretly wanted to write poetry? Have you dreamed of expressing your creativity through a short story? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to write an essay about something you experienced. Or maybe you’ve had visions of starting a blog. Now is the perfect time to try new types of writing because there are so many free or donation-based videos, how-to’s, and guides available online right now. Just a quick scroll through Facebook or Instagram will yield a treasure trove of virtual options for learning new ways to express yourself in writing.
   Check out:
   • Udemy (free courses from renowned authors and poets; Facebook page)
   • MasterClass Live (free classes from mainstream authors and poets; Facebook page)
   • Laura Munson (free Friday afternoon journaling sessions with New York Times–bestselling author; Facebook page)
   • BTY’s very own Katie Davidson offers a virtual writing group weekly via Zoom. 

3. Consider writing prompts. The thought of sitting down and coming up with something to write about out of thin air might be too overwhelming right now. You want to write, but you don’t necessarily know what about. Writing prompts are wonderful ways to be creative without requiring you to brainstorm a topic. Writing prompts may focus on the fictional (“An alien visits Earth and asks you to explain the purpose of cats”) or real life (“Describe your favorite childhood toy”). Prompts may be a single sentence, or they might provide a bit of background and ask you to take it from there. Journal prompts relating to self-discovery or personal growth can be especially good topics to explore in your journal.
   Check out: Pinterest (search “writing prompts”) or StoryADay

Pick whichever method speaks to you and give it a try. If it doesn’t help, try another. Remember, it’s about the process, not the product. No one will ever read your writing unless you choose to share it. This is a tool for managing stress and reducing anxiety, for organizing our thoughts, and understanding our experiences. We will get through this, apart, but together. Happy writing!