Write to a better life
Writing Exercises for Depression
Decrease in Major Depressive Disorder (also known as clinical depression), a disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and/or a lack of interest in activities.
Weekly Wins
A weekly win practice, or accounting for what you’re proud of over the last week and acknowledging progress, is a simple and effective way to boost your productivity.
Gratitude Journaling
Gratitude can have a lasting positive effect on your wellbeing through activating prosocial circuits in the brain. Gratitude provides resilience to trauma, improve cardiovascular function, asthma, reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, and many other benefits.
Best Possible Self
The Best Possible Self is an exercise that has us imagine our future self in a vivid sensory way, as if everything had gone as well as it possibly could. The exercise has been shown to improve mood, depression, stress and immune system function, and goal achievement. It works by fostering positive emotions, generating salient and specific goals, and activating the brain through mental imagery.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
EMDR therapy is a clinical process that helps people with trauma replace negative neural patterns. EMDR therapy does this through alternating visual or auditory stimulation, known as BLS (bilateral stimulation).
Breathing Exercises for Wellbeing
Breathing exercises for relaxation can have a huge impact on our ability to regulate our nervous system. Relaxation focused breathing exercises have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, improve mood, sleep quality, and cognitive function. They are safe, easy to do, and take just a few minutes each day.
Expressive Writing
Expressive Writing is a science backed writing exercise that involves writing about a traumatic event to help you remap your relationship to the event over time. It has a wide range of potential benefits with studies showing improvements in student GPAs, memory, arthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, anxiety, stress, depression, wound healing, blood pressure, and more.
The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or any other professional advice. It is not intended to replace, and should not be relied upon in lieu of, professional diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. References to academic studies or their findings do not imply causation, nor do they guarantee replicable results. Always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare or mental health professionals with any questions you may have regarding your specific situation. If you are in need of mental health support, please visit our mental health resources page.