Journaling

Diary-writing advocates have found their pastime offers emotional and physical benefits

Writing about stressful events helps an individual to come to terms with them by acting as a stress management tool

There is increasing evidence to support the notion that journaling has a positive impact on physical wellbeing , with one recent study contending that regular journaling strengthens the T-lymphocyte immune cells . Other research indicates that it helps to decrease the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis .

There are mental benefits too from keeping a journal . For instance , it may be the case that writing about stressful events helps an individual to come to terms with them by acting as a stress management tool .

Scientific evidence supports that the act of writing accesses the left brain , which is analytical and rational . While the left brain is occupied , the right brain is free to create , intuit , and feel .

In this way , writing removes mental blocks and allows us to use brainpower at its fullest to better understand ourselves , others , and the world around us .

Jamie Lee , co-founder of The Kind Friend , can attest to this , having begun her journaling journey as an Asian child in Australia and finding that her commitment to writing helped her become more focused , resilient , and optimistic . She has also used her experiences to help many others in need of emotional support .

The Kind Friend began as an inspirational Instagram page in 2019 . From these beginnings , it evolved as a business into printed journals with weekly templates that help users set goals , track habits and moods , and reflect on their week ’ s mindful progress . Lee , who is based in Singapore , told Medical Festival Asia , an online event co-conceptualised by Global Health Asia-Pacific and Messe Düsseldorf Asia that took place last December , that the stresses from a year of lockdowns and fear has brought many people into journaling .

“ Initially when I started The Kind Friend with my husband , we didn ’ t put too much thought into it — it was just a hobby on the side ,” she said . “ But then , and especially this year , we ’ ve been getting a lot of messages . People would email us and say how alone they feel in today ’ s connected world . We also have professionals sharing stories about just how burned out and overwhelmed they are during the pandemic .”

The Instagram account that started it all now has nearly 80,000 followers who share each of the inspirational quotes that Lee posts on the business ’ s page hundreds of times .

These followers , who are mainly from Southeast Asia , wouldn ’ t normally be expected to say to someone else lines like , “ Your smile makes me smile ”,

Writing can help relieve stress

46 JUNE 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com