essay writing health

Essays About Health: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Almost everyone would agree that health is the most important thing in life. Check out our guide on writing essays about health.

The concept of health is simple. It is the condition where you are well and free from disease or illness. When we are healthy, we are happier, more productive, and able to live a full life. There are many types of health, each helping us to survive and excel in different areas of our life, including physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

In the same ways, there are different ways to stay healthy, such as exercise, socialization, and self-care. These areas of health may not all be equally important, but each of them plays a vital role in making us the best versions of ourselves we can be. You might also find our medical words list helpful.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. essay on how to keep healthy by diwakar sharma, 2. what it’s like living with depression: a personal essay by nadine dirks, 3. the advantages of eating healthy food by lindsay boyers.

• 4.  A Helping Hand: An Essay On The Importance Of Mental Health Parity by Sydney Waltner

5. ​​Stop Trying to be Happy: Improving Your Emotional Health by Jacquelynn Lyon

7 prompts for essays about health, 1. what is the most important type of health, 2. do television and video games negatively impact mental , 3. freedom and public health, 4. how can you live a healthier life, 5. what causes depression, 6. mental health and eating disorders, 7. is “spiritual health” really necessary.

“I think there is no use in earning money in such a way that denies our health. Money is not important than health as it cannot return health and fitness back once we are ill. Thus health is always preferred over money as good health keeps us happy and free from various health issues. If we are healthy we can earn whole life but can’t earn if the health gets deteriorated.”

Sharma discusses the importance of health and ways to stay healthy, including eating nutritious food, drinking water, keeping a good sleep schedule, and exercising. In addition, he notes that it is essential to prioritize your health; do not work too hard or chase money to the extent that it affects your health negatively. You can also check out these articles about cancer .

“I was pleasantly surprised when—after around three weeks—I started feeling results. My intense feeling of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness slowly started to lift and the fears I had about not feeling like myself dissipated. I had worried I would feel less like myself on fluoxetine, but instead for the first time, in a long time—I felt more like myself and able to function throughout the day. Receiving treatment and building healthy coping mechanisms has allowed me to continue to function, even when a depressive episode hits.”

Depression is one of the first things people think of concerning mental health. In her essay, Dirks reflects on her experiences with depression, recalling her feelings of hopelessness and sadness, putting her in a dull, lethargic mood. However, she got help by going to a doctor and starting medication and therapy. Dirks also lists down a few symptoms of depression, warning readers to get help if they are experiencing a number of them.

“A healthful diet is just as good for your brain as the rest of your body. Unhealthy foods are linked to a range of neurological problems. Certain nutrient deficiencies increasing the risk of depression. Other nutrients, like potassium, actually involved in brain cell function. A varied, healthful diet keeps your brain functioning properly, and it can promote good mental health as well.”

Boyers discusses some benefits of healthy eating, such as weight control, reduced risk of diabetes and cancer, and better brain function- an unhealthy diet is linked to neurological problems. She gives readers tips on what they should and should not eat in huge quantities, saying to avoid sugary foods and drinks while eating lean meat, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You might also be interested in these essays about nursing and essays about obesity .

4.   A Helping Hand: An Essay On The Importance Of Mental Health Parity by Sydney Waltner

“For three years I was one of those people hiding my illness. I was quietly suffering from depression and an eating disorder. My whole day revolved around my eating disorder and hiding it from everyone. This caused a lot of sadness, anger, and loneliness. I not only hid it from others, but I also tried to hide it from myself. I tried to convince myself that nothing was wrong because I did not fully understand what was happening.  I did not know what was making me hurt myself and why I could not stop.”

Waltner writes her essay about the importance of mental health and how it can also affect one’s physical health. She recalls her experiences with hiding her depression and eating disorder; they led to her immense suffering, but her parents discovered her illness before it was too late. She is grateful for how her life is now and encourages others to break the stigma around mental health issues and speak up if something is wrong with them. 

“Beautiful people, smart people, funny people, leaders, lawyers, engineers, professional clowns, everyone you’ve ever looked up to — they have suffered in their lives, and probably will continue to suffer at some point.”

The obsession with making yourself happy will forever have you either not valuing the present or will lead to despair when you do find it — and it’s still not enough. This cycle of self-abuse, dissatisfaction, and emotional isolation can paralyze us, hinder our actions, and mar our self-perception.

Lyon reflects on something she discovered in her first year of college: that it’s fine if you’re not always happy. She says that society’s pressure for everyone to be positive and happy 100% of the time is detrimental to many people’s emotional and mental health. As a result, she gives readers tips on being happy in a “healthier” way: happiness should not be forced, and you should not constantly compare yourself to others. 

There are many types of health, each playing an essential role in helping us live well. If you were to pick one, which do you believe is the most important? You can choose mental well-being, physical well-being, or spiritual well-being. Use your personal experiences in defending your choice; be sure to support your stance with sufficient details. 

For a strong argumentative essay, write about the correlation between “screen time” or video games and television with mental health. Are they that bad for people’s mental health? Perhaps they are good for the mental health of some people. Research this topic and support your response with credible sources- there is no wrong answer as long as it is well-defended. For an interesting piece, conduct interviews to gather information.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many argue that some freedoms must be given up for the greater good. These include mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and stay-at-home orders. Write about whether or not public health should be prioritized over “individual liberty” and why. If so, to what extent? Answer this question in your own words for a compelling argument.

Like many of our cited essay examples above, you can write your essay on how to stay healthy. Give your readers some mental, physical, or social guidelines for being healthier, and explain why they are important. You can even do a more well-rounded guide; give a few tips for each type of health if you wish. 

As stated previously, a prevalent health issue is depression, which can stem from various factors. Look into the different causes of depression and explain how they lead to depression. In this essay, you can share your research on social factors, economic factors, and health conditions that can make a person more susceptible to depression. As this is a medical-related topic, use credible sources for your research. 

Many believe there is a correlation between mental health and obesity, anorexia, and bulimia—research how mental health issues can cause these issues or vice versa, depending on what you find. In your essay, explain the link between mental health issues and eating disorders and how they can affect each other.

A type of health commonly listed is spiritual health, which many religious people value. Should it be classified as something different? Many believe the components of “spiritual health” already fall under mental, social, emotional, and social health, so there is no need to classify it as something different. Reflect on this issue and discuss your stance. 

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining “what is persuasive writing ?”

If you’re stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

View all posts

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Nursing — Good Health And Wellness

Good Health and Wellness

• Categories: Nursing

About this sample

Words: 573 |

Published: Mar 13, 2024

Words: 573 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

The importance of good health and wellness, the impact of good health and wellness, achieving and maintaining good health and wellness, the broader implications of good health and wellness.

• In addition to physical health , mental and emotional well-being are equally important. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and therapy can help manage stress and improve overall mental health.
• Building a strong support network and nurturing meaningful relationships also contribute to emotional wellness.
• Furthermore, it is essential to prioritize self-care and relaxation. Taking time for oneself, engaging in hobbies, and setting boundaries are crucial for maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
• Lastly, regular check-ups with healthcare professionals and staying informed about one's health are vital for early detection and prevention of illness.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Nursing & Health

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 872 words

1 pages / 599 words

4 pages / 1784 words

4 pages / 2141 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Nursing

When driving around Miami, FL there are a copious number of billboards that I see advertising for people to become nurses throughout the city. When doing research, I’ve only come across a couple of news articles, advertising on [...]

Gagnon, K., & Sabus, C. (2015). Professionalism in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Considerations for Using Social Media in Health Care. Physical Therapy, 95(3), 406–414.Nayak, S. G. (2018). Time Management in Nursing -- Hour [...]

Clinical learning experiences hold a paramount role in nursing education, serving as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This essay explores the essential role of clinical placements in developing [...]

A Better NHS. (2011). Patient autonomy and choice. Retrieved from 71-77.

Postpartum hemorrhage is a significant risk in the postpartum period, requiring prompt recognition, assessment, prevention, and management. Nursing care plays a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being of women experiencing [...]

In the world of healthcare, professionalism is the cornerstone of nursing practice. It encompasses a set of qualities and behaviors that not only uphold the standards of the profession but also ensure the delivery of safe and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Dissertation
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Book Report/Review
• Research Proposal
• Math Problems
• Proofreading
• Movie Review
• Cover Letter Writing
• Personal Statement
• Nursing Paper
• Argumentative Essay
• Research Paper
• Discussion Board Post

90+ Strong Health Essay Topics And How To Handle Them

Table of Contents

You can write about healthy lifestyle, rehabilitation after traumas, childcare, common or rare diseases, global advances in health and medicine, environmental health issues, and more.

How to deal with essay on health?

Your essay will be the most impressive if you choose a topic that is familiar to you or you can write about something you have experience with. It will be easier for you to do a health essay paper and build a convincing argument. Another approach is choosing a topic which is not familiar to you but in which you are interested in. It would be a great opportunity for you to educate yourself.

If you pick an interesting essay topic idea which is too broad to cover in your essay, you should do additional keyword research and look for some specific aspects of this topic to narrow it.

Keep in mind that you should look for a narrow topic which has enough available resources that you can use for researching it.

Before you start writing, make sure you have found enough evidence and examples to support your argument. A good idea is to create a working outline or a mind map for your essay that will guide your writing and help you stay focused on your key points.

First, create a strong thesis statement and think about several main points to support it.

If you are looking for health topics to write about and are not sure what to write about, here we have gathered a lot of exciting ideas that you won’t find on any other essay writing services.

Feel free to use them as inspiration own topic ideas or for writing your essays.

Health topics to write about

• How Can We Help Children Maintain a Healthy Body Weight?
• Ethical and Legal Issues of Surrogate Pregnancy.
• How Dangerous are Long-term Consequences of Anorexia?
• Principles of Preventing Medical Errors in Hospitals.
• How Can Doctors Promote Healthy Lifestyle?
• Why is Homeopathy a Pseudo-Science?
• What Are Side Effects of Blood Transfusion?
• Types of Eating Disorders.
• Can a Vegan Diet Be Healthy?
• The Best Strategies to Maintain Healthy Body Weight.
• Psychological Issues of Breast Cancer.
• Importance of Organ Donation after Death.
• Can Cloning Help Save Lives?
• Ethics in Human Experimentation.
• Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women.
• Is It Possible to Cure Diabetes in the Future?

Interesting health topics to write about

• What is the Difference Between Western Medicine and Alternative Medicine?
• Health Consequences of Eating Disorders.
• Bioprinting as the Future of Organ Transplants.
• Use of Stem Cell Technologies for Cancer Treatment.
• Ethical and Social Issues of Cosmetic Surgery.
• How Does Advertising Influence Healthy Food Choices?
• Role of Nutrition Education in Promoting Healthy Diets.
• Fast Food Consumption and Obesity.
• How Can Exercise Help Senior Improve Strength and Balance?
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Weight Loss Surgery.
• Obesity as a Medical and Social Problem.
• Strategies for Heart Disease Prevention.
• How Long Can Humans Actually Live?
• Pros and Cons of Clinical Trials.
• Alternative Ways to Treat Depression.
• Is There a Cure for HIV or AIDS?

Controversial health essay topics

• Is There a Link Between Sugary Drinks and Cancer?
• Health Consequences of Caffeine.
• Can Little Kid Food Habits Signal Autism?
• Should Euthanasia Be Legalized?
• Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana.
• Is Alternative Medicine Dangerous?
• Is Doing Sports always Healthy?
• Which Diet Is Better: Low-Fat or Low-Carb?
• Discuss Measures for Prevention of Communicable Diseases.
• Social Determinants That Influence People’s Well-being.
• Are Doctors Responsible for the Opioid Epidemic?
• Is Religion a Mental Disorder?
• Is Nuclear Waste Really Dangerous for People?
• Is a No-Carb Diet Safe?
• Are We Too Dependent on Antibiotics?
• Are Natural Medicines a Good Alternative to Pharmaceutical?
• Can Blockchain Help Improve the Trust in the Accuracy of Clinical Trials Data?

Mental health argumentative essay topics

• Influence of Environmental Factors on Mental Health.
• Drug Misuse and Mental Disorders.
• Social Effects of Mental Disorders.
• Alcohol Addiction and Psychiatric Disorders.
• Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Teen Depression.
• How to Protect Your Mental Health from Social Media Dangers.
• Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Severe Mental Disorders.
• Negative Effects of Total Isolation on Physical and Mental Health.
• Mental Health Benefits Associated with Physical Activity.
• Association between Exercise and Mood.
• Mental Health Problems of Homeless People.
• Stress as a Risk Factor for Mental Disorders.
• Effect of Disposer to Violence on Mental Disorders.
• Common Mental Disorders in the USA.
• Depression and Anxiety Disorders among Adults.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders.
• Economic Burden of Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
• Influence of Anxiety Disorders on the Quality of Life.

Health care essay topics

• Advantages and Challenges of E-health Technology.
• Application of Big Data to the Medical Care System.
• Risk Connected with Untested Methods of Alternative Medicine.
• Controversial Issues in the US Medical Care System.
• Telemedicine and Other Disruptive Innovations in Health Care System.
• How Can We Achieve Health Equity?
• Impact of Racism on the Well-Being of the Nation.
• School-based Health Care and Educational Success of Children.
• Role of School-based Health Care in Preventing Dropout.
• What Can Be Done to Curb Rising Suicide Rates?
• Do Adults and Senior Still Need Vaccines?
• What Human Rights Issues Have an Impact on Public Health?
• What Measures Should Be Taken to Prevent Heat-related Deaths?
• Discuss Healthy Housing Standards.
• What Are Common Strategies for Prevention of Chronic Diseases?

Health essay topics for high school students

• Can Computers Displace Doctors?
• Can People Become Immortal?
• Can Happiness Cure Diseases?
• How to Prevent Teen Pregnancy?
• The Biggest Health Challenges Facing Youth.
• Importance of Balanced Diet for Teenagers.
• Does Being Healthy Make You Happy?
• Why Is Exercise Important to Teenagers?
• Why Is Obesity Becoming an Epidemic?
• How to Become a Healthy Person.
• Importance of Healthy Lifestyle for Teens.
• Negative Impact of Smoking Teenagers.
• How Does Stress Affect Teenagers?
• Why Do Teenagers Experiment with Drugs?
• How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits.

Need a health essay overnight? Here’s a deal! Buy argumentative essay help by choosing any topic from our list and handing it to our writers. Complete confidentiality and the brilliant result are guaranteed.

I Want to Write My Essay, But I Can’t Figure Out How

Hidden Truth About Ghostwriting (Might Be Shocking)

Introducing an anxiety research paper

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Health is Wealth Essay

Importance of Working Towards Good Health

Health is God’s gift to us. Health refers to the physical and mental state of a human being. To stay healthy is not an option but a necessity to live a happy life. The basic laws of good health are related to the food we eat, the amount of physical exercise we do, our cleanliness, rest, and relaxation. A healthy person is normally more confident, self-assured, sociable, and energetic. A healthy person views things calmly, and without prejudice.

Introduction

“The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man! Because he sacrifices his health to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” This signifies that individuals don’t prioritise their mental health to earn money. Some even work 24 hours a day or seven days a week. 

However, you have the option to remain balanced. So, balance work and fitness daily. Always strive to keep a cheerful as well as a concentrated routine. It is necessary to plan ahead of time. In any case, one must maintain a good mental, bodily, and emotional state, and no professional or counsellor can assist you unless you desire to live. The will to live in the moment and make the most of it awakens the ideal strength within you, and you are the only one who can never let yourself fall apart. 

Importance of Maintaining Health

We live in a super-fast age. The Internet has shrunk the world dramatically and people are connected 24x7. Multitasking is the order of the day, as we struggle to fulfill our responsibilities for everyone in life. In this fight, we often forget to spare time for ourselves. The stress levels continue to build up until one day a major collapse may make us realize that in all this hectic activity, we have forgotten to take care of one important thing – our health.  

As we spend days shuttling between hospital and home, putting our body through one test after another, trying to find out what has gone wrong, we are forced to remember that ‘Health is indeed Wealth’.  

In earlier days, life was very simple. People worked for a stipulated time, often walked everywhere, ate more homemade food, did household chores, and enjoyed a healthy balance in life.  

Now people have cars and bikes to commute, so they walk less. With the demand for more working hours, people are awake till late at night and indulge in more junk food than home-cooked food. Modern equipment at home has reduced the labour work and increased dependency on this equipment.  People don’t have enough time to exercise or even get enough sunlight. Nowadays people are living very unhealthy lifestyles.  

Unhealthy living conditions have increased the contraction of people to various diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, hypertension, etc. This has alarming implications in the near future. So it is very important to focus on our health as much as we focus on our work. Moderation in food habits, daily exercise, and balanced work-life can surely make a big difference to our health and body. When a person stays mentally and physically fit, his actions and decisions are more practical and logical and hence he is more successful in life. Furthermore, good health has a direct impact on our personality.

It's crucial to consider how much self-control you have to keep a healthy lifestyle. Research reveals that changing one's behaviour and daily patterns are quite tough. According to the data, whether a person has a habit of smoking, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, or any other substance, it is extremely difficult to quit. A study found that 80% of smokers who tried to quit failed, with only 46% succeeding.

Importance of Good Health 

A healthy body has all the major components that help in the proper functioning of the body. The essential component is the state of physical health. Your life term extends when you maintain good physical fitness. If you are committed to exercising with a sensible diet, then you can develop a sense of well-being and can even prevent yourself from chronic illness, disability, and premature death.  

Some of the benefits of increased physical activity are as follows. 

It Improves Our Health  

1. It increases the efficiency of the heart and lungs. 

2. A good walk can reduce cholesterol levels.  

3. Good exercise increases muscle strength. 

4. It reduces blood pressure. 

5. It reduces the risk of major illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

Improved Sense of Well-being  

1. It helps in developing more energy. 

2. It reduces stress levels. 

3. Quality of sleep improves. 

4. It helps in developing the ability to cope with stress. 

5. It increases mental sharpness. 

Improved Appearances  

1. Weight loss contributes to a good physique.  

2. Toned muscles generate more energy. 

3. Improved posture enhances our appearance. 

Enhanced Social Life  

1. It improves self-image 

2. It increases opportunities to make new friends. 

3. It increases opportunities to share an activity with friends or family members. 

Increased Stamina  

1. Increased productivity. 

2. Increased physical capabilities. 

3. Less frequent injuries. 

4. Improved immunity to minor illnesses. 

Along with physical fitness, a good mental state is also essential for good health. Mental health means the emotional and psychological state of an individual. The best way to maintain good mental health is by staying positive and meditating. 

However, unlike a machine, the body needs rest at regular intervals. A minimum of six to seven hours of sleep is necessary for the body to function optimally. Drinking plenty of water and a balanced diet is also very important for your body.  If you violate the basic laws of good health, like working late hours, ignoring physical exercise, eating junk food, it will lead to various ailments like hypertension, heart attacks, and other deadly diseases. 

What is National Health Day? 

Every year on April 7th, World Health Day is celebrated. The World Health Organization (WHO) hosted the inaugural World Health Day on April 7, 1950, to draw the entire world’s attention to global health. 

Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) comes up with a new theme for public awareness, such as "Support Nurses and Midwives" in 2020. This supports the situation of COVID-19, where healthcare workers are saving lives day and night without worrying about their health.

The WHO also operates a global health promotion initiative to align equality so that individuals can take control of their lives, "every life matters," and consider their fitness. The government promotes numerous health policies, including food security, workplace quality, and health literacy, in schools, colleges, workplaces, and various community activities. 

Good Health for Children 

Children need to maintain good physical and mental health. With an increase in the pressure of studies and over-indulgence in modern gadgets, children are losing the most precious thing, which is health. These days, they barely play in the playgrounds, they are more inclined towards junk food and spend more time on the screen. These unhealthy activities are slowly sabotaging their health. Parents should concentrate on the physical and mental health of their children, and inculcate good habits for maintaining a healthy lifestyle from a tender age.   

Cleanliness also has a major role to play in maintaining good health. Taking a bath every day, washing hands before eating meals, brushing twice a day, changing clothes regularly, etc. are important habits to maintain good health.  

Society is witnessing gloomy faces as a result of children and their parents' excessive usage of a computer, mobile phone, and the Internet. They are constantly using these technological items, oblivious to the fact that they may harm their health. Teenagers are frequently discovered engrossed in their electronic devices, resulting in mishaps. 

The usage of electronic devices frequently results in anxiety and hostility. Excessive usage of these products has been linked to cancer, vision loss, weight gain, and insomnia. 

Emotional development is another crucial component that should not be disregarded because it determines whether or not a person is healthy. An emotionally healthy person should have a solid sense of logic, realisation, and a realistic outlook. 

Conclusion 

Health is Wealth because if we are not healthy then all our wealth, fame and power can bring no enjoyment. Keeping fit and healthy is indeed not an option but a necessity.  

FAQs on Health is Wealth Essay

1. Why is Health Considered as Wealth?

Health is wealth because it is one of God’s most precious gift to human beings. Good health refers to a balanced and healthy physical and mental state of an individual. If any individual is not healthy, wealth, fame, and power can bring no enjoyment. So health has more value than materialistic things.

2. When is World Health Day Celebrated?

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 th April to raise awareness about health and fitness.

3. How Can You Maintain Good Health?

You can maintain good health by following a balanced and healthy diet. Have a good lifestyle by balancing work and life. You should have a moderate physical fitness regime every day. Go for brisk walks regularly or do other forms of exercise. Also, meditate and be positive to take care of your mental health.

4. Who came up with the phrase "health is wealth"?

If a man begins to live a lifestyle without a plan or unhealthy manner, he will confront numerous difficulties. He'd be depressed on the inside, untidy and filthy on the outside, and emotionally unstable all the time. A person who lives an unhealthy lifestyle will wake up late at night and early in the morning. Not only would this affect their mental condition, but it would also poison their surroundings. 

There would be a lot of wrath and sadness, and they would have fits from time to time.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

The big idea: can writing make you healthier?

Research supports the benefits of ‘expressive writing’ – but what makes it so cathartic?

L ike many anguished teens, I often felt that my best friend was my diary. I would enter my bedroom in a terrible mood, but as the sentences took shape on the page, whatever was troubling me no longer felt like quite as much of a catastrophe. I wasn’t able to extinguish every sadness, but often felt calmer, as if a physical pressure had lifted from my chest.

These moments always brought to mind a scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in which the headteacher at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, extracts upsetting memories with his magic wand and places them in a shallow bowl, called the “pensieve”, which allows him to view things more dispassionately. Writing, for me, provided the same relief.

Diarists throughout history have experienced something similar. “When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived,” Anne Frank observed. As a science writer, I have been delighted to discover that the practice doesn’t only soothe a troubled soul, it can even boost our physical health.

Professor James Pennebaker and his graduate student Sandra Beall were the first to demonstrate these effects in the 1980s. They asked a series of students to write a short essay for 15 minutes on four consecutive days. Some of the participants were encouraged to write about “the most traumatic or upsetting experience” of their lives, exploring their “deepest thoughts and feelings” about the episode. Others were asked to write about trivialities, such as descriptions of their dorm rooms or the shoes they were wearing.

The students in the first group described feelings of guilt over a grandmother’s death, anger over their parents’ divorce and torment about their sexuality. Confronting their feelings was not easy, and many left Pennebaker’s lab feeling sadder than when they came in. Over the following six months, however, they paid around half as many visits to the student health centre as the participants in the control group.

This may sound miraculous, but emotional distress of all kinds can throw the immune system out of whack, meaning that it responds less efficiently to infection. If expressive writing ultimately leaves us feeling calmer, then it could restore those defences to their full strength. And that is exactly what Pennebaker’s colleagues revealed using blood tests : after writing about their feelings for four consecutive days, people’s white blood cells started replicating more quickly in response to foreign invaders. Subsequent studies have found that expressive writing can accelerate recovery after a biopsy . It also seems to reduce blood pressure and improve lung function .

The link between stress and illness may be clear, but why is writing so cathartic in the first place? That’s trickier to answer. One possibility is that externalising our thoughts gives us more head space to think about other things. We now know that simply writing a to-do list can release people’s cognitive resources for other activities , as it reduces the amount of information they are juggling in their minds. This eases stress and, done before bedtime, it can even improve sleep .

Expressive writing could perform a similar function in clearing our mental workspace of the sources of negative rumination, freeing up working memory to devote to the things that matter. That chimes with my own experience. When I feel distressed, my anxieties sit centre stage in my mind and prevent me from focusing on pleasant activities such as reading. After I have written in my journal, these demons recede into the background, having been given the attention they crave.

Equally importantly, writing our worries down can create a sense of “ psychological distance ”, which allows us to take a more philosophical attitude to our problems. If we have been contemplating hurt caused by others, for instance, we might find it easier to see their viewpoint, or we recognise a valuable lesson we’ve learned, which could help us to function better in the future.

In some cases we might even be able to see the funny side of the situation – or at least take ownership of what happened. “When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you; but when you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it’s your laugh,” wrote Nora Ephron . Expressive writing can help us to make this mental transformation in private.

No single intervention will suit everyone: writing is just one tool and some may balk at the idea of setting out their feelings in detail. If you would like to incorporate it into your own mental first aid kit, though, there are some evidence-based ways to maximise its benefits.

Without losing too much spontaneity, aim to give your account a narrative structure , such as sketching out the background to the situation and the chain of events that led up to it. Be precise about the emotions you are experiencing: is it irritation or frustration; disappointment or disillusionment? The act of pinpointing those exact feelings can make insight easier. Finally, consider how your situation affirms your good qualities and the things you value. You might be demonstrating strength, or kindness, or you might become newly aware of the importance of certain friendships in your life. If I am particularly anxious, I try to frame the diary entry as a letter from a friend who is offering kind advice. This imaginative exercise boosts self-compassion , which reduces distress. I also find it helpful to note down simple moments of pleasure.

after newsletter promotion

My teenage angst may be well behind me, but my journal continues to be a source of solace – and with my knowledge of the psychological literature, I can now use it to full advantage. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, a few minutes with my pen in my hand makes the world feel a little more manageable.

David Robson is the author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life (Canongate) .

Further reading

Opening Up by Writing It Down by James W Pennebaker and Joshua M Smyth (Guilford, £14.99)

The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul (Mariner, £28)

Write It All Down: How to Put Your Life on the Page by Cathy Rentzenbrink (Bluebird, £14.99)

• The big idea
• Health, mind and body books

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

How to be Healthy Essay

Introduction, keeping fit, eating well, maintain a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, lifestyle choices.

Almost every person hopes to have a long, healthy life. However, many persons do not recognize the fundamental life choices that when made, can enable them live healthy, and often take these choices to be sacrifices that are not worth making. Choosing to adopt a healthy lifestyle has several benefits to the body such as a significant improvement of life expectancy, having a life free of disease and ailments, having a fit body, and the overall well being of the body.

Today, most of us focus on making outside changes in order to look healthy, such as using cosmetics. What we do not realize is that what we put in our body and how we handle it ultimately determines how we look, feel, energy levels, and the general health of the body. In order to be healthy, a person does not necessarily have to make radical changes to the lifestyle, rather, it involves making simple small changes to everyday life.

Changes such as taking the stairs instead of the lift, adding a fruit to a meal, having a glass of water at every opportune instance, and eating snacks in moderation are just some of the few steps to having a healthy life. In order to live healthy, a person should focus on keeping fit, eating healthy, checking on their weight, getting enough sleep, and avoiding risky behaviors such as smoking and taking alcohol in moderation.

One of the greatest impediments to living healthy is the lack of physical activity. Although many people recognize the benefits of keeping fit, they avoid it either because they think it is a waste of time, or they are used to a sedentary lifestyle. The truth is, the more a person engages in physical activity, the healthier they become.

Physical activity does not have to be vigorous, in fact, even simple activities such as gardening, walking, and partaking in domestic chores can greatly improve one’s health. Even recreational activities such as cycling, dancing and swimming can help in keeping fit.

The benefits of physical activity include a reduction of the risks of heart diseases and diabetes, improvement of mental health, strengthening of bones and muscles, and helping with a number of health niggles such as digestion and poor posture, among other benefits.

Eating well entails striving to have a balanced diet at all instances. A good diet not only helps in weight management, but it can also improve a person’s health and the overall quality of life. Every meal should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, grain products and legumes, but less of foods that contain more calories and fats. Although proteins rich foods such as meats are important to the body, they should be taken in moderation, and the focus should be on leaner meats (mainly white meat) and foods with little or no fat.

Consuming dairy products with little or no fats, such as skimmed milk, is another simple plan for reducing the quantity of calories entering the body. Eating habits such as eating while one is not hungry, skipping breakfast, and eating fast should be avoided. A person should also strive to drink as much water as possible since the body requires at least 8 cups of water each day.

One major step to being healthy is to maintain a healthy weight, and this may entail shedding off excess weight, gaining weight for underage persons, or maintaining that ideal weight. Eating right and participating in physical activities can go a long way in having a healthy weight and avoiding the health problems arising from being overweight.

To avoid being overweight or to shed off the extra pounds, a person should avoid high-calorie foods, or consume them in moderation and partake in regular physical activity. Trying to gain weight can be more difficult than losing weight. In gaining weight, one must not focus on consuming junk foods or snacks as this can clog the arteries and lead to heart diseases. Calories and fats must be obtained from healthy foods.

Failure to have enough sleep can have a negative impact on a person’s life, for instance, people who sleep less than seven hours a day are more exposed to catarrhal diseases than those who sleep for at least eight hours. The need for sleep varies among different persons, therefore, one should determine his/her own sleep requirements, and strive to have adequate sleep every day. As a caution, alcohol, or any other drug, should not be used to induce sleep as this would only lead to a pass out, not sleep.

Lifestyle choices such as avoiding cigarettes, avoiding excess calories from alcohol, sugar and fats, reducing the intake of high-fat foods, and partaking in physical activities should be emphasized on a day-to-day basis. Although alcohol has been found to be important to the body, it should be taken in moderation as it exposes the body to harmful compounds (cigarettes have the same effect).

All of us aspire to be healthy and engage in different activities to achieve this objective, however, there is no single way of ensuring that we are healthy for the rest our life. A healthy life is a cumulative product of various activities as outlined above, and discarding certain choices. The activities outlined must be observed on a day-to-day basis, and this does not have to mean making drastic changes, it is the simple, small changes that lead to a healthy life. In fact, drastic changes can lead to failure, or other side effects.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, October 12). How to be Healthy. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-to-be-healthy/

"How to be Healthy." IvyPanda , 12 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/how-to-be-healthy/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'How to be Healthy'. 12 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "How to be Healthy." October 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-to-be-healthy/.

1. IvyPanda . "How to be Healthy." October 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-to-be-healthy/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "How to be Healthy." October 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/how-to-be-healthy/.

• The Best Food for Consumption and Six Nutrients
• Holiday Snacks Employee Engagement
• Nursing Career Management and Its Steps
• Assessing the Impact of Single Motherhood on Public Health
• Blood Donation as a Charitable Activity for Society
• Myths and Misperceptions of the Disability
• Health Risk in travelling
• Healthy People: Health Disparity among the Minority Groups

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Health is Wealth: 200, 300 and 400 Words

• Updated on  
• May 2, 2024

Essay on Health is Wealth: The saying “health is wealth” rings true for all of us. Material possessions lose their lustre when you are unwell. Good health allows us to experience life fully, with energy for work, relationships, and enjoyment. While money can buy medical care, it cannot buy true health and happiness. By prioritising healthy habits like balanced meals and exercise, you invest in your greatest asset – your well-being.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Health is Wealth in 200 Words
• 2 Essay on Health is Wealth in 300 Words
• 3.1 Physical Well-Being
• 3.2 Mental Health
• 3.3 Economic success
• 3.4 Life Quality
• 4 11+ Quotes on Health and Well Being

Quick Read: How to Calculate Percentage in ICSE Board Class 10?

Essay on Health is Wealth in 200 Words

‘The most important wealth in the world is our health. Today, everyone is running after a materialistic life, ignoring true happiness and their well-being. In this chaotic and digital world, the phrase “health is wealth” holds great importance. It reminds us that having good health is the foundation on which a fulfilling life is built. 

Speaking of the advantages of having good health, it allows us to enjoy life to the fullest. Without having a healthy mind and body the whole process becomes elusive. 

Moreover, success and productivity depend on being in excellent health. It enables people to achieve their goals, work productively, and give back to society. An unwell person frequently encounters obstacles that prevent them from realising their hopes and dreams.

Keeping one’s health is also an investment in the future. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are two preventative healthcare practices that can assist in avoiding the need for future, expensive medical treatments. It is important to take a responsible approach to protecting one’s general well-being as well as one’s financial wealth.

Finally,” health is wealth” emphasises the importance of well-being in our lives. It reminds us that the priceless gift of health cannot be replaced by any amount of material prosperity. One must put their health first and treasure it beyond everything else if one wants to live a truly wealthy and fulfilling life.

Quick Read: Essay on Best Friend

Essay on Health is Wealth in 300 Words

Health is riches, after all. This proverb, which emphasises the critical necessity of health in one’s life, is full of timeless wisdom. It is simple to ignore the priceless gem that good health represents in a world that is focused on material prosperity and material interests.

First and foremost, being healthy helps people to live happy and fruitful lives. It serves as the cornerstone on which all other accomplishments are constructed. When someone is in good health, they have the vigour, strength, and stamina to achieve their aspirations, objectives, and ambitions. Poor health, on the other hand, can be a formidable obstacle that restricts one’s potential and prospects.

Additionally, having good health results in a higher quality of life. Healthy people require fewer medical procedures and are less in pain and suffering. They can enjoy life’s simple pleasures like spending time with loved ones, going outside, and eating good food without worrying about their diet.

The state of one’s health is crucial to their mental well-being. Mental health and physical well-being are tightly related. An emotionally stable and resilient state of mind is frequently a byproduct of physical health. The importance of health in one’s entire well-being is further highlighted by the fact that poor health can result in stress, worry, and depression.

The economic effects of health are another important factor. People who are in good health tend to be more productive at work, which increases earnings and improves financial security. On the other hand, health issues can cause medical expenses and decreased earning potential, which can have a considerable influence on one’s financial security.

The term “health is wealth” embodies a profound truth, to sum it up. The most valuable asset a person can have is good health because it supports all other facets of life. It enables people to live fulfilling lives, pursue their aspirations, and maintain their mental and emotional health. As a result, we must give our health priority and make the necessary investments because it is the only type of wealth that will never be exceeded or replaced by worldly belongings.

Quick Read: Trees are Our Best Friend Essay

Essay on Health is Wealth in 400 Words 

The proverb “Health is Wealth” maintains a special place in our lives. It emphasises how important good health is as the cornerstone of a successful and joyful life. The genuine meaning of riches is frequently missed in today’s fast-paced society when success is frequently gauged in monetary terms. This essay explores the deep significance of this adage and shows how true it is that the best asset anyone can have is their health.

Here are all the benefits one gets:

Physical Well-Being

Being physically healthy is the same as being in good health. Our bodies perform at their peak when we are healthy, enabling us to go about our daily lives with vigour and enthusiasm. A productive existence is built on a foundation of physical fitness. It makes it possible for us to work effectively, pursue our objectives, and fully appreciate life. Even the most plentiful wealth becomes meaningless in the absence of health.

Mental Health

 In addition to physical health, mental health is a critical element of our entire prosperity. Ageless wisdom is having a good mind and a healthy body. Our cognitive functioning, emotional stability, and resiliency in the face of difficulties are all influenced by our mental health. Material prosperity can become a cause of stress and unhappiness in the absence of mental wellness.

Economic success

Economic success is directly correlated with good health. People may actively participate in the workforce and make more money when they are healthy. Healthier populations are also less financially burdened by healthcare expenses, releasing funds for other basic requirements. As a result, investing in healthcare is an investment in the prosperity of a country.

Life Quality

The genuine wealth of life is found in its excellence. A person in good health can enjoy life’s joys, go on trips, engage in hobbies, and spend time with loved ones. No amount of money can replace the richness that these experiences bring to life. Healthy people are better able to live fulfilling and pleasurable lives.

To conclude, the motto “Health is Wealth” perfectly describes what a prosperous life entails. While having material possessions is necessary for comfort and security, how we use and enjoy our wealth is ultimately influenced by our health. Given that health is the foundation upon which all other types of wealth are formed, investing in it should be a top priority. One must understand that health is the ultimate treasure that neither money nor anything else can ever fully replace or imitate to truly understand its worth. Therefore, let us never lose sight of the fact that our health is the most priceless asset we have when pursuing success and happiness.

Also Read: Essay on Health and Fitness for Students

11+ Quotes on Health and Well Being

Here are popular quotes on health and well-being:

• “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – Jim Rohn
• “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit.” – B.K.S. Iyengar (Yoga teacher)
• “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin (Polymath)
• “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates (Ancient Greek physician)
• “A sound mind in a sound body.” – Juvenal (Roman satirist)
• “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar (Motivational speaker)
• “Your body hears everything your mind says.” – Naomi Judd (Singer)
• “The first wealth is health.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (American philosopher)
• “The groundwork for all happiness is health.” – Leigh Hunt (British writer)
• “To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise, we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear.” – Gautam Buddha (Spiritual leader)
• “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey (Talk show host)
• “Peace is the result, not of the absence of conflict, but of the ability to handle it.” – Roosevelt (American President)

Explore other Essay topics for school students here:

Wealth and health are vital, but many people believe that health is ultimately more crucial. This is because it is challenging to gain from riches without being in excellent health.

A healthy person has an improved social life and a sound mental condition, which refers to a person’s emotional and psychological state and is just as important for health as physical fitness.

A person with poor mental health has a higher chance of chronic physical conditions. If you are physically fit and active, your neural functioning is enhanced which can be beneficial for your academic, social and personal environment.

For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu ! 

Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

Health and Hygiene essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on health and hygiene.

In modern times, it has become so important to take care of one’s health and hygiene. With the rising population levels, pollution levels, emission of harmful gases, it has to be a priority for everyone to maintain their health and hygiene. The health and hygiene essay guides you the different ways into which a person should be aware of his/her health. 

For the human body, health is a positive state where every part of the mind and body is in harmony. Additionally, it is also functioning and balancing the other parts. Thus, in other words, when all parts of the body are functioning well, this physical well-being state of the human body is called health. It is well said and proved that a healthy person is someone who has a sound body and a sound mind. Health is one of the characteristics of life that helps a person live longer. 

According to WHO, health is a state of complete mental, spiritual, physical, and social well being and not only the absence of disease. If a person is in a good physical state and free from any diseases but is under constant stress, greed, tension, anger, etc, then that person is not healthy. 

Hygiene refers to good practices and rituals that prevent diseases and leads to good health. Thus, it mainly includes proper sewage disposal, cleanliness, and safe drinking water supply. So, it includes all the activities that are done for preserving and improving as well as maintaining sound health. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Good habits for Better Health and Hygiene

Nutritious food .

For good health, one needs to eat wholesome food. Some part of the food that we take in serves as fit to keep the body warm. While another part results in the flesh that helps in giving strength. One of the most nutritious food is considered as pure milk. There are many other things like vegetables that we generally take in order to have nutritious food. For a human body, a mixed diet is considered the best option. It should have an adequate amount of minerals, vitamins, and calories required to run our body. 

One of the major sources of good health and hygiene is pure water. Although it seems like a normal thing, water is one essential that makes up our body. Many people get sick because of drinking impure water. Also, it mostly happens in villages where people bathe, washcloths, and clean the cattles in the same water. Thus, when this water is used for drinking purposes, then it may result in hazardous health. 

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is one of the most important elements of good health. Thus, it is an important hygiene habit to keep yourself and your surroundings neat and clean. Whenever there is dirt, there are germs that thrive in it. Also, the dirt is light in air and thus it moves around in the air. So, a dirty man is often the one that is attacked easily with various diseases. 

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

English Compositions

Short Essay on Health [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

In today’s lesson, I will discuss how you can write short essays on Health within different word limits. All the essays will be written here with a simplistic approach for a better understanding of all students. 

Short Essay on Health in 100 Words

Health is an important aspect of one’s life. A person is considered healthy when he or she is free from illness or injury. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera. However, all these categories are interrelated.

While low physical activity can impact overall mental health, mental stress can adversely affect heart health and poor emotional health can deteriorate one’s quality of life. Being in good health enables a person to function optimally and live their life happily.

Some of the basic rules for maintaining good health include going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, eating healthily and drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. 

Short Essay on Health in 200 Words

Health is one of the most important aspects of one’s life. One can be a billionaire but if he is not in good health, he can not enjoy the luxuries that money can buy. Thus, health is considered as the real wealth. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera.

However, all these categories are interrelated and impact each other. For example, not exercising regularly can make a person irritable and cause mental health problems, while chronic stress can lead to health diseases and diabetes. Poor emotional and psychological health can also make people withdrawn and impact their overall health. 

Being in good health enables a person to function optimally and live their life happily. When one feels healthy and is not troubled by pain or discomfort in the body, he can be more active, participate in various activities and be more present in the daily happenings. Being mentally in good health is also very important as suffering from anxiety, depression and other issues can severely deteriorate one’s quality of life.

One can easily improve his health by making some changes in his lifestyle. Some of the basic rules for maintaining good health include going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, eating healthily and drinking a lot of water. 

Short Essay on Health in 400 Words

Health is a key aspect of one’s life. A person is considered healthy when he is free from all illness and injury and can conduct his life well. One can be a billionaire but if he is not in good health, he can not enjoy the luxuries that money can buy. Thus, health is considered as the real wealth and being in good health is very important. Health can be categorised as physical health, mental health, emotional health, social health, et cetera.

Everyone can be healthy but good health does not come without the necessary discipline and care. Going to bed and waking up on time, exercising regularly, avoiding junk food, eating healthily, drinking a lot of water and getting some sunlight are a few good habits that can improve one’s health. However, it cannot be achieved in a day. One needs to change their lifestyle and practice healthy habits daily. 

Sometimes, one’s external environment can also be the reason for their poor health. Living in shabby conditions, breathing in heavily polluted air, consuming unhygienic food and contaminated water can more often than not, result in bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Hence, cleanliness is an important factor if one wants to be healthy. One should also take care of their diet and include greens and other nutritious food, limit their caffeine intake, stop smoking and drinking as well as follow the basic health protocols. 

Good health is necessary if one wants to achieve their goal in life. One cannot study well or work hard when they are not feeling at ease or are suffering from pain. Adopting a healthy lifestyle makes us healthy and boosts our energy as well as immunity. Thus, good health is the key to enjoying a good life. 

In this session above, I have mentioned everything that could be necessary to write short essays on Health. Through the simple words and sentences, I hope now you have understood the entire context. If you still have any doubts regarding this session, kindly let me know through some quick comments. If you want to read more such essays on various important topics, keep browsing our website. 

Join our Telegram channel to get the latest updates on our upcoming sessions. Thank you. 

50 Latest Health IELTS Topics

• Unlimited Task 1 checks Get all the feedback you need to keep improving your charts and letters.
• Unlimited Task 2 checks Practice and perfect your skills with essays.
• Personalized suggestions Know how to boost your score.
• Detailed mistakes analysis Get instant feedback. Spot every mistake.
• Topic ideas generator Get topic-specific ideas to enhance your writing.
• Vocabulary helper Get the right words for any topic.
• Progress tracking Track your writing improvements.

University of South Florida

Health Professions

College of Arts and Sciences

Main Navigation

Essay writing.

There are two types of essays for Health Profession Programs:

• The Personal Statement  (or sometimes called The Essay) which accompanies the primary application, commonly submitted through a centralized application system such as AMCAS, AADSAS, VMCAS, PTCAS, etc.
• The Admissions Essays  (sometimes called the Secondary Essays) which accompany secondary applications, if offered.

The Personal Statement (The Essay)

The intent of the essay is to give you the opportunity to explain why you are a good candidate for professional school. Remember that you are competing with hundreds and sometimes thousands of candidates. Your essay should focus on your unique qualities. It should give a reader a good sense of who you are and why you are interested in professional school. It is important that the essay be well written and interesting, and that it conforms to the space requirements. Good essays articulate why you what to be a healthcare provider and why they should pick you (over all others). They also tend to have the following characteristics:

• Reveal an understanding of your personality traits
• Focus on a few events or persons who have influenced you, especially in your decision to pursue a health profession
• Explain the effects of that influence
• Maintain the readers interest

View a recording of our Personal Statement Workshop for more information:

The Admissions Essays (The Secondary Essays)

Most secondary applications will include additional essays. These are likely to fall under one of the following categories:

• Essays about yourself and your activities
• Essays on why you are interested in a particular school
• Essays asking you to respond to a thought-provoking statement or contemporary problem

Use our resources to assist in the process of writing your personal statement or application essays. 

The Writing Process

The Process

A well-written essay requires thought and effort. The process outlined here is well established and worthwhile. In order to help you in your journey the Division of Health Professions Advising has developed the information below and encourages you to review all of the following PRIOR to starting your first draft:

• Interactive, Online Personal Statement Workshop (offered by the University of Minnesota at no cost)
• Pre-Recorded Workshops (see above)
• The information provided below.

Reflect and Assess

Consider the following questions:

• Have you fully researched your intended health profession? If not, what else do you need to know? If so, how holistically competitive are you (more than simply GPA and test scores)?
• How/why did you develop an interest in medicine (dentistry, pharmacy, etc.)?
• What is your motivation for pursuing medicine (dentistry, pharmacy, etc.)? Are they mature rather than pediatric? (pediatric reasons: because I like to help people, because I am good at science)
• What experiences helped you grow in your understanding of the field? How?
• How can you display you knowledge about the profession?
• What examples can you provide about your humanistic capacity?
• What is it specifically about medicine (dental, pharmacy, etc.) that will allow you to serve others?
• What skills/characteristics do you embody that make you a good fit? Do they align with the AAMC competencies?
• What goals and values are important to you in the successful practice of your profession?
• How is your personality suited for this profession?
• What sets you apart from other applicants (i.e. special talents, languages, hobbies, recognition)? Why will these activities make you a better healthcare provider?
• Does your GPA/test score reflect your academic potential? Why or why not?
• If needed, how do you explain incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated courses? (don’t make excuses)
• What is your vision for the future of your intended profession? How will you make a positive contribution?

Determine Your Theme

The personal statement should be YOUR story and, therefore, the theme YOU choose will be personal. There is no one “best” theme but you may wish to consider your relationships, experiences, and events as a guide. Additionally, some students may have more than one overarching theme.

Organizing Your Statement/Telling Your Story  

Now that you have your theme(s), you can begin to outline your story. Remember that all statements should have a strong opening (preferably with a hook), clear themes in the body, and a conclusion.

The opening should set the tone for the entire essay (written equivalent of a first impression), should be POSITIVE (no slug to butterfly stories) all while introducing the themes you will explore throughout your statement.

The body should consist of 3-5 key experiences or achievements you want to highlight that support the theme. For each paragraph consider using the P.E.E.L. technique, explained as such: 

The conclusion should tie together the themes you introduced in your introduction with the stories/examples provided in the body of your statement.

Write a draft of your essay. Let the questions you asked above guide your writing. Be sure to include your thoughts and emotions. Be vivid, and use good description.

• You do not have much space, so avoid “filler” in your sentences (Ex: “at this point in time” vs. “now”)
• You should know more than a lay-person about the medical field and this should come through in your statement. Ex:  Instead of saying “my shadowing experience taught me the importance of good doctor-patient communication,” explain what exactly you learned using relevant examples and reflection.  Break down medical concepts into your own specific observations. 
• In other words, demonstrate, rather than list, your personal attributes.
• Generally only include recent activities when describing extra-curriculars (college and beyond).
• Write from the viewpoint of an adult whose experiences and education have given you a mature and realistic understanding of the field, its nuances and its challenges.

Use active voice, use strong verbs, and vary your sentence structure.

• Lecturing your readers on what their job is
• Using shock value or overly dramatic language
• Criticism of the profession you are trying to join
• Using clichés, abstractions or generalities
• Grandiosity, negativity, humor, controversial topics, arrogance, excuses, assuming the role of the victim, lies, leading with a quote from someone else (they want to know what you have to say), an “epiphany into medicine” (the decision should be the result of thoughtful decisions), and/or that you have “always known” you would be a good physician.

Review and Rewrite

Once you have a draft written, ask the following questions:

• Did you answer the essay prompt provided (if applicable)?
• What 2-3 clear qualities/characteristics (about you) would a potential admissions committee identify? Are they quality? Some possibilities: maturity, passion, logic, commitment, ability to relate to diverse cultures, compassion/empathy, genuineness, leadership, enthusiasm, self-awareness, perseverance/commitment.
• Was humanism highlighted? In the words of Dr. Specter from the Morsani College of Medicine, “Patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
• Did you support the assertions you make about yourself with examples?
• How was the flow? Did you get hung up on any words, sentences?
• Did you adhere to the word limit? If not, what changes can be made to do so?
• Does the introduction grab attention?
• Would dialogue or conversation help?
• Will the reader understand why/how you have been influenced?
• Were any irregularities in your academic record adequately explained?
• Did you conclude or just quit?

Then get to work on your next draft!

You should have multiple drafts- most quality statements have gone through at least 7 drafts over a period of many month! Hence, do not wait until the last minute! And remember, you cannot have enough proofreading!

Proofread: Use the spell and grammar checker in your word-processing program. Have someone else read the essay for clarity and grammar. Have someone who does not know you well read the essay for content and interest. When you give the essay to someone for proofreading, give him or her a copy that is double-spaced so there is room to write. In proofreading, look for the following common problems:

• Grammar (appropriate use of words, sentence structure)
• Punctuation (especially commas, colons, and semi-colons)
• Mechanics (capital letters, spelling, hyphens)
• Word choice (appropriate, concise, apolitical)
• Syntax (word order)
• Vocabulary (if you use a thesaurus, be careful that you know what the word means)

Tips for Better Essays

• Accurately follow any instructions, including rules about font size and space.
• Use most or all of the space provided. A very short essay may suggest arrogance,
• overconfidence, or laziness.

Be sure that someone qualified reads the essay. Ask the reviewers to note the following:

• Grammar/spelling errors
• Readability/flow
• Maturity/professionalism
• What impression does the essay give?

Avoid gimmicks like quoting odd poetry. Avoid the overused "I want to help people."

If this is a re-application your essay should address progress you have made since the first application, significant changes in grades, test scores, or personal growth, and reasons you believe you are a better candidate this time around.

Personal Statement Reviews

USF Pre-Health Professions Advising

Once you have attended group advising, you can schedule an appointment with our office to review your application or personal statement. We offer 45 minute appointments all year long to review the big pieces of your application, like the personal statement and/or activities sections.

During the summer, we set aside days just for reviewing applications with more advisors. Look out for the announcements on BullsConnect, our calendar, and your major advisor's for more information.

USF Career Services

Students can make a Career Coach appointment for "Graduate School Preparation" in Handshake for personal statement support. 

They are also available for Career Chats in Library 257 & 258 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3pm. 

USF Writing Studio

After you have reviewed all information above and written multiple drafts, you may wish to take your personal statement to the USF Writing Studio. USF Pre-Health Professions Advising has partnered with the USF Writing Studio to offer personal statement reviews specifically for pre-health students. Please contact the USF Writing Studio to schedule an appointment with one of their consultants.

Even More Help

There are also several internet companies that will read and evaluate your essay for a fee. Although we do not recommend any of these sites for their services, their websites also have examples of what to do – and not do – in a good essay:

• Accepted.com
• Admissionsessays.com
• Essayadvice.com
• Essayedge.com
• Ivyessays.com 

We offer Personal Statement Workshops every semester and application review appointments to review secondary applications! Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any further questions.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Your Health

• Treatments & Tests
• Health Inc.
• Public Health

Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning

Jonathan Lambert

If you're like many digitally savvy Americans, it has likely been a while since you've spent much time writing by hand.

The laborious process of tracing out our thoughts, letter by letter, on the page is becoming a relic of the past in our screen-dominated world, where text messages and thumb-typed grocery lists have replaced handwritten letters and sticky notes. Electronic keyboards offer obvious efficiency benefits that have undoubtedly boosted our productivity — imagine having to write all your emails longhand.

To keep up, many schools are introducing computers as early as preschool, meaning some kids may learn the basics of typing before writing by hand.

But giving up this slower, more tactile way of expressing ourselves may come at a significant cost, according to a growing body of research that's uncovering the surprising cognitive benefits of taking pen to paper, or even stylus to iPad — for both children and adults.

Is this some kind of joke? A school facing shortages starts teaching standup comedy

In kids, studies show that tracing out ABCs, as opposed to typing them, leads to better and longer-lasting recognition and understanding of letters. Writing by hand also improves memory and recall of words, laying down the foundations of literacy and learning. In adults, taking notes by hand during a lecture, instead of typing, can lead to better conceptual understanding of material.

"There's actually some very important things going on during the embodied experience of writing by hand," says Ramesh Balasubramaniam , a neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced. "It has important cognitive benefits."

While those benefits have long been recognized by some (for instance, many authors, including Jennifer Egan and Neil Gaiman , draft their stories by hand to stoke creativity), scientists have only recently started investigating why writing by hand has these effects.

A slew of recent brain imaging research suggests handwriting's power stems from the relative complexity of the process and how it forces different brain systems to work together to reproduce the shapes of letters in our heads onto the page.

Your brain on handwriting

Both handwriting and typing involve moving our hands and fingers to create words on a page. But handwriting, it turns out, requires a lot more fine-tuned coordination between the motor and visual systems. This seems to more deeply engage the brain in ways that support learning.

Shots - Health News

Feeling artsy here's how making art helps your brain.

"Handwriting is probably among the most complex motor skills that the brain is capable of," says Marieke Longcamp , a cognitive neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université.

Gripping a pen nimbly enough to write is a complicated task, as it requires your brain to continuously monitor the pressure that each finger exerts on the pen. Then, your motor system has to delicately modify that pressure to re-create each letter of the words in your head on the page.

"Your fingers have to each do something different to produce a recognizable letter," says Sophia Vinci-Booher , an educational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. Adding to the complexity, your visual system must continuously process that letter as it's formed. With each stroke, your brain compares the unfolding script with mental models of the letters and words, making adjustments to fingers in real time to create the letters' shapes, says Vinci-Booher.

That's not true for typing.

To type "tap" your fingers don't have to trace out the form of the letters — they just make three relatively simple and uniform movements. In comparison, it takes a lot more brainpower, as well as cross-talk between brain areas, to write than type.

Recent brain imaging studies bolster this idea. A study published in January found that when students write by hand, brain areas involved in motor and visual information processing " sync up " with areas crucial to memory formation, firing at frequencies associated with learning.

"We don't see that [synchronized activity] in typewriting at all," says Audrey van der Meer , a psychologist and study co-author at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She suggests that writing by hand is a neurobiologically richer process and that this richness may confer some cognitive benefits.

Other experts agree. "There seems to be something fundamental about engaging your body to produce these shapes," says Robert Wiley , a cognitive psychologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "It lets you make associations between your body and what you're seeing and hearing," he says, which might give the mind more footholds for accessing a given concept or idea.

Those extra footholds are especially important for learning in kids, but they may give adults a leg up too. Wiley and others worry that ditching handwriting for typing could have serious consequences for how we all learn and think.

What might be lost as handwriting wanes

The clearest consequence of screens and keyboards replacing pen and paper might be on kids' ability to learn the building blocks of literacy — letters.

"Letter recognition in early childhood is actually one of the best predictors of later reading and math attainment," says Vinci-Booher. Her work suggests the process of learning to write letters by hand is crucial for learning to read them.

"When kids write letters, they're just messy," she says. As kids practice writing "A," each iteration is different, and that variability helps solidify their conceptual understanding of the letter.

Research suggests kids learn to recognize letters better when seeing variable handwritten examples, compared with uniform typed examples.

This helps develop areas of the brain used during reading in older children and adults, Vinci-Booher found.

"This could be one of the ways that early experiences actually translate to long-term life outcomes," she says. "These visually demanding, fine motor actions bake in neural communication patterns that are really important for learning later on."

Ditching handwriting instruction could mean that those skills don't get developed as well, which could impair kids' ability to learn down the road.

"If young children are not receiving any handwriting training, which is very good brain stimulation, then their brains simply won't reach their full potential," says van der Meer. "It's scary to think of the potential consequences."

Many states are trying to avoid these risks by mandating cursive instruction. This year, California started requiring elementary school students to learn cursive , and similar bills are moving through state legislatures in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin. (So far, evidence suggests that it's the writing by hand that matters, not whether it's print or cursive.)

Slowing down and processing information

For adults, one of the main benefits of writing by hand is that it simply forces us to slow down.

During a meeting or lecture, it's possible to type what you're hearing verbatim. But often, "you're not actually processing that information — you're just typing in the blind," says van der Meer. "If you take notes by hand, you can't write everything down," she says.

The relative slowness of the medium forces you to process the information, writing key words or phrases and using drawing or arrows to work through ideas, she says. "You make the information your own," she says, which helps it stick in the brain.

Such connections and integration are still possible when typing, but they need to be made more intentionally. And sometimes, efficiency wins out. "When you're writing a long essay, it's obviously much more practical to use a keyboard," says van der Meer.

Still, given our long history of using our hands to mark meaning in the world, some scientists worry about the more diffuse consequences of offloading our thinking to computers.

"We're foisting a lot of our knowledge, extending our cognition, to other devices, so it's only natural that we've started using these other agents to do our writing for us," says Balasubramaniam.

It's possible that this might free up our minds to do other kinds of hard thinking, he says. Or we might be sacrificing a fundamental process that's crucial for the kinds of immersive cognitive experiences that enable us to learn and think at our full potential.

Balasubramaniam stresses, however, that we don't have to ditch digital tools to harness the power of handwriting. So far, research suggests that scribbling with a stylus on a screen activates the same brain pathways as etching ink on paper. It's the movement that counts, he says, not its final form.

Jonathan Lambert is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance journalist who covers science, health and policy.

• handwriting

Mental Health Journaling: The Benefits of Writing for Wellness

• May 08, 2024

Home » Day One Blog » Mental Health Journaling: The Benefits of Writing for Wellness

As the benefits of mental health journaling continue to be researched, we’re finding more about how this simple practice can improve various aspects of well-being and overall quality of life. Studies have shown that engaging in regular journaling can help reduce stress, manage anxiety and depression symptoms, enhance self-awareness, promote emotional regulation, and even strengthen resilience in the face of challenges.

In this article, we’ll explore the many compelling benefits of mental health journaling. We’ll also offer some prompts and techniques for expanding your journaling practice.

Key Takeaways

• Just 15 to 20 minutes a day of journaling is enough to see the mental health benefits.
• Journaling can be a healthy way of coping with everyday stress and challenges.
• Journaling helps clarify thoughts and regulate emotions.
• Expressive writing facilitates self-reflection, personal growth, and problem-solving.

The Compelling Benefits of Mental Health Journaling

Whatever your reason to start, journaling is a powerful tool that will help you manage and maintain your mental health. 

1. Establish Healthy Coping Skills

Creating healthy coping skills is foundational to maintaining mental wellness. Coping methods are the habits that help you get through stressful or painful experiences. From working out frustrations at the gym to biting fingernails, everyone has big and small, healthy and not-so-healthy ways to cope with life’s challenges. You may not even be aware of the ways you cope with stress, but daily journaling can help you recognize the positive and negative (adaptive and maladaptive) habits you have for dealing with distress. 

Journaling itself is a healthy coping method that anyone can add to their personal toolbox. You don’t need to be a skilled writer or invest in a lot of special equipment. If you can carve out 15 to 20 minutes of quiet time each day, you can instantly start enjoying how journaling benefits mental health. 

A pen and a simple plain notebook or your fingers and a laptop are all you need to get started. Using journal prompts makes writing even easier. Journaling can become your go-to method of dealing with stressful or painful situations.

2. Reduce Stress

Journaling as  expressive writing can also relieve stress . In fact, journaling is scientifically proven to help reduce stress levels and the symptoms of anxiety.

The many  benefits of journaling  are backed by research, with some of the health benefits of expressive writing including lowered blood pressure, improved mood, and a reduction in the number of stress-related doctor’s visits.

3. Manage Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

People diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns are often  encouraged to include journaling  in their self-care routine. Studies have shown that journaling can  help people manage anxiety and reduce symptoms , especially as part of a mental health treatment program.

Journaling for anxiety , in particular, can increase your self-awareness and help you recognize patterns in your behavior that might be adding to your stress level. Through journaling, you can better track patterns in your behavior that can lead to positive change. Your journal can also reveal how you’ve changed over time and which coping strategies were the most successful.

4. Release and Process Emotions

In childhood, we all learn how to handle our emotions. The first lessons in coping skills come from watching others, mainly parents or other authority figures. Unfortunately, those lessons are sometimes maladaptive. An inability to release and process emotions in a healthy way can affect your self-esteem, relationships, and mental and physical wellness. 

Journaling can help you better understand your emotions. Journaling about feelings offers an opportunity to express your emotions in a safe, private space without judgment. Instead of pushing down uncomfortable feelings or following dysfunctional family patterns because they are familiar, you can pour your thoughts and feelings onto the pages of your journal. 

Expressing emotions is the first step to understanding them better. If, like many people, you’ve been taught to avoid “negative” emotions, you may have difficulty distinguishing between anger and hurt or shame and regret. Journaling is a way to get to know your feelings without sharing them with anyone else. There’s no need to worry about what others might think or if you’re expressing yourself in the “right” way. Your journal is a private space where you can explore your feelings in a way that works for you. 

5. Identify Patterns and Triggers

Journaling benefits mental health by giving you a platform to examine patterns in your moods, reactions, behavior, and thought processes. You may learn you’re unhappy with some of the ways you react and take steps to change. 

Looking through the pages of your journal, you’ll likely recognize your personal triggers—the things that make you feel strong emotions or act out in maladaptive ways. Once you understand these patterns and triggers, you can take steps to change them or change the way you react to them. 

Reflecting on your thoughts and behaviors also encourages you to look at yourself through many different lenses. The point of self-awareness isn’t only to become aware of your more negative traits. Seeing your strengths and your successes is just as important. Recognizing your accomplishments helps you have confidence when things are difficult. 

6. Deepen Self-Awareness

Regular self-reflection is like having a deep conversation with yourself. You can learn things about yourself through journaling that you may not have realized before. If you’re like most people, many of your habits, behaviors, and ways of thinking are automatic. They are learned reactions that you perform without thinking. 

Consider the benefits of self-awareness:

• Self-reflection helps to focus your energy on a specific goal. Gaining insight can help you be more productive and let go of self-doubt. In the business of everyday life, people don’t often have the time to stop and contemplate why they think or react a certain way, especially in circumstances that are emotionally charged. One of the benefits of journaling is that it’s a way to stop, mentally relax, and take time each day to reflect on the most important things.  
• Discover your values, beliefs, and core identity. Part of self-growth is understanding how your core identity forms. Many people grow into adulthood without questioning the values they learned at home, through peer groups, or in their culture. 
• Improve problem-solving and decision-making skills . Self-doubt is an obstacle to making decisions, but journaling can help. Instead of overthinking and making a problem more complicated, writing allows you to empty your mind of confusing and conflicting thoughts. Whatever the issue, journaling is a beneficial way to organize your thoughts so you can see a challenge and its solutions with more clarity. (More on that next.)

7. Clarify Thoughts and Find Solutions

Have you ever said, “I don’t know what to think,” and really meant it? Sometimes there are so many ideas and options that it feels almost impossible to sort them out. Writing in your journal is a way to sort out a multitude of confusing thoughts and get some clarity. 

You can take an analytic approach to journaling when you need to solve a problem or make a big decision. Make a pros and cons list, or write about the possible scenarios related to a difficult decision. Once you’ve written out all the “what ifs,” you can take your time and see how you feel about the potential outcomes. 

Looking back at previous journal entries can also help you get perspective. Reviewing how you’ve handled problems in the past and what you might like to do differently this time can give you the confidence you need to make a change.

8. Strengthen Resilience in the Face of Challenges

When faced with difficult situations or setbacks, journaling provides a way to reflect on challenges and explore different perspectives. Through writing, you can gain new insights, identify patterns, and recognize your own strengths and resources. This process can enable you to reframe your experiences and find new meaning or opportunities for growth within difficult circumstances. By shifting your perspective through journaling, you can build resilience by cultivating a more positive and adaptive mindset.

For example, journaling provides a space for exploring strategies to overcome challenges. By engaging in reflective writing, you can explore different options and develop action plans. Journaling can help build resilience by fostering a sense of control, agency, and proactive engagement with your challenges.

How to Start Mental Health Journaling

Mental health journaling is often used in conjunction with therapy, especially if you are supporting your mental health needs and seeking professional guidance. A trained therapist can provide valuable insights, help you navigate difficult emotions that may arise during the journaling process, and offer personalized strategies for self-reflection and growth. Their expertise can enhance the benefits of therapeutic journaling, ensuring that you receive the necessary support and guidance to address your specific mental health concerns effectively.

However, if you’re starting on your own, here are some steps to guide you in establishing a mental health journaling practice:

1. Choose Your Favorite Way to Write

Decide whether you prefer to journal in a traditional notebook, a digital journaling app like Day One , or even an audio journal. Each medium offers unique advantages: notebooks provide a tactile experience that many find therapeutic; digital apps offer convenience and features like password protection and searchability; audio journals can be particularly helpful if you find speaking more natural than writing. Choose a format that feels most comfortable and accessible for you.

2. Ensure What You Write is Private

Ensure your journal is a private space where you can be completely honest. This confidentiality can make it easier to express thoughts and feelings you might not be ready to share with others. Consider keeping your journal in a locked drawer or using apps with strong end-to-end encryption to maintain your privacy.

3. Try a Structured Approach

If you’re unsure what to write about, consider using journal prompts tailored to your needs. Prompts such as “What am I feeling right now?” or “What did I do today that made me feel good?” can be a great starting point Having a structure can help ease you into the writing process by reducing the pressure to come up with topics on your own. For even more structure, you may want to try a journal template that leads you through the same reflective prompts or questions each time you have a journaling session.

4. Express Your Feelings

Allow yourself to express whatever comes to mind without judgment. The goal is to acknowledge your emotions and thoughts freely. Writing about your feelings can provide a safe outlet for expression and can lead to deeper insights over time. Expressive writing taps into your deepest thoughts and feelings, offering a release that can be both healing and enlightening.

5. Explore Fresh Insights

As you write, focus on uncovering new understandings about yourself and your experiences. Use your journal to explore questions that go deeper, like, “Why does this matter?” or “What can I learn from this?” Encourage yourself to dig beneath the surface of your initial thoughts and feelings, which can lead to transformative insights and personal growth.

6. Consider What Actions You Can Take

After identifying and exploring your feelings and thoughts, think about practical steps you can take to address issues or enhance your well-being. This might include setting small, manageable goals, planning changes in your behavior or environment, or identifying resources for further support such as books, websites, or professionals.

7. Be Patient and Kind with Yourself

Journaling is a personal process that can evoke strong emotions. Approach your experience with kindness and patience, understanding that growth and insight are gradual. Allow yourself the space and time to explore your thoughts and feelings without expectation for quick fixes or immediate clarity.

8. Regularly Review and Reflect to Understand Patterns

Periodically, look back on your journal entries. This can help you see patterns or changes in your thoughts and feelings over time, providing further insights into your mental health journey. This practice can also reinforce positive changes you’ve made and help you recognize areas where you may want to focus more attention moving forward.

By incorporating these steps into your journaling practice, you can create a powerful tool for managing your mental health, enhancing self-awareness, and fostering emotional resilience. Whether used alone or with professional support, mental health journaling can be a transformative and therapeutic practice.

Mental Health Journaling Prompts

The ways journaling benefits mental health are far-reaching, but sometimes staring at the blank page or screen can be intimidating. You may feel stuck when brainstorming an idea to write about or have so much to express you don’t know where to start. Journal prompts can enrich the journaling experience and help you get “unstuck.” 

Journaling prompts are questions, suggestions, or fill-in-the-blank sentences meant to inspire your journaling writing. Journaling prompts for mental health , specifically, may ask pointed questions about your emotions, challenges, or things you are doing to protect your wellness. 

Here are some prompts that can benefit your goal for better mental health:

What feelings am I struggling with right now?

What are my biggest stressors currently, what is one fear or anxiety that i currently have, what am i avoiding by staying busy or distracted, what am i holding onto that i need to let go of, what are some ways i can take better care of myself this week, how have i changed in the last year, what personal strengths have helped me overcome challenges in the past, what situation recently made me feel happy or content, what are three things i am grateful for today.

When using journaling prompts, do your best to find a balance between staying on topic and allowing your mind to take you where it needs to go. Even a prompt that seems simple on the surface can lead to deep insights if you follow your instincts while writing. 

Experience the Benefits of Mental Health Journaling

Writing is a simple but effective way to support your mental health, no matter what challenges you’re facing. Whether you use journaling to complement other forms of mental health care or as a stand-alone practice, it can add meaning to your life on many levels.

Journaling has the potential to bring clarity, healing, and a sense of agency in navigating your emotions and experiences. So, grab a pen and paper, or open the Day One app , and allow the words to flow. Embrace the therapeutic benefits of writing and witness the positive impact it can have on your mental health and overall well-being.

Download the Day One Journal App Today

The Day One journaling app makes it easy to build and maintain a daily journaling habit. Daily journaling reminders , daily writing prompts , and journal streaks are designed to help keep you motivated and consistently journaling.

About the Author

Kristen Webb Wright is the author of three books on journaling. With a passion for writing and self-reflection, Kristen uses her experience with journaling to help others discover the benefits of documenting their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In her role at Day One, she helps to promote the power of journaling so people from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of journaling.

This content is not professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  You understand and agree that the services, products, and any other information you learn from Day One are not intended, designed, or implied to diagnose, prevent, or treat any condition or to be a substitute for professional medical care . Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.

Share this:

Journal from here, there, everywhere..

Download the Day One journal app for free on iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

• Share full article

When Prison and Mental Illness Amount to a Death Sentence

The downward spiral of one inmate, Markus Johnson, shows the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill.

Supported by

By Glenn Thrush

Photographs by Carlos Javier Ortiz

Glenn Thrush spent more than a year reporting this article, interviewing close to 50 people and reviewing court-obtained body-camera footage and more than 1,500 pages of documents.

• Published May 5, 2024 Updated May 7, 2024

Markus Johnson slumped naked against the wall of his cell, skin flecked with pepper spray, his face a mask of puzzlement, exhaustion and resignation. Four men in black tactical gear pinned him, his face to the concrete, to cuff his hands behind his back.

He did not resist. He couldn’t. He was so gravely dehydrated he would be dead by their next shift change.

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

“I didn’t do anything,” Mr. Johnson moaned as they pressed a shield between his shoulders.

It was 1:19 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019, in the Danville Correctional Center, a medium-security prison a few hours south of Chicago. Mr. Johnson, 21 and serving a short sentence for gun possession, was in the throes of a mental collapse that had gone largely untreated, but hardly unwatched.

He had entered in good health, with hopes of using the time to gain work skills. But for the previous three weeks, Mr. Johnson, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had refused to eat or take his medication. Most dangerous of all, he had stealthily stopped drinking water, hastening the physical collapse that often accompanies full-scale mental crises.

Mr. Johnson’s horrific downward spiral, which has not been previously reported, represents the larger failures of the nation’s prisons to care for the mentally ill. Many seriously ill people receive no treatment . For those who do, the outcome is often determined by the vigilance and commitment of individual supervisors and frontline staff, which vary greatly from system to system, prison to prison, and even shift to shift.

The country’s jails and prisons have become its largest provider of inpatient mental health treatment, with 10 times as many seriously mentally ill people now held behind bars as in hospitals. Estimating the population of incarcerated people with major psychological problems is difficult, but the number is likely 200,000 to 300,000, experts say.

Many of these institutions remain ill-equipped to handle such a task, and the burden often falls on prison staff and health care personnel who struggle with the dual roles of jailer and caregiver in a high-stress, dangerous, often dehumanizing environment.

In 2021, Joshua McLemore , a 29-year-old with schizophrenia held for weeks in an isolation cell in Jackson County, Ind., died of organ failure resulting from a “refusal to eat or drink,” according to an autopsy. In April, New York City agreed to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Nicholas Feliciano, a young man with a history of mental illness who suffered severe brain damage after attempting to hang himself on Rikers Island — as correctional officers stood by.

Mr. Johnson’s mother has filed a wrongful-death suit against the state and Wexford Health Sources, a for-profit health care contractor in Illinois prisons. The New York Times reviewed more than 1,500 pages of reports, along with depositions taken from those involved. Together, they reveal a cascade of missteps, missed opportunities, potential breaches of protocol and, at times, lapses in common sense.

Prison officials and Wexford staff took few steps to intervene even after it became clear that Mr. Johnson, who had been hospitalized repeatedly for similar episodes and recovered, had refused to take medication. Most notably, they did not transfer him to a state prison facility that provides more intensive mental health treatment than is available at regular prisons, records show.

The quality of medical care was also questionable, said Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, Sarah Grady and Howard Kaplan, a married legal team in Chicago. Mr. Johnson lost 50 to 60 pounds during three weeks in solitary confinement, but officials did not initiate interventions like intravenous feedings or transfer him to a non-prison hospital.

And they did not take the most basic step — dialing 911 — until it was too late.

There have been many attempts to improve the quality of mental health treatment in jails and prisons by putting care on par with punishment — including a major effort in Chicago . But improvements have proved difficult to enact and harder to sustain, hampered by funding and staffing shortages.

Lawyers representing the state corrections department, Wexford and staff members who worked at Danville declined to comment on Mr. Johnson’s death, citing the unresolved litigation. In their interviews with state police investigators, and in depositions, employees defended their professionalism and adherence to procedure, while citing problems with high staff turnover, difficult work conditions, limited resources and shortcomings of co-workers.

But some expressed a sense of resignation about the fate of Mr. Johnson and others like him.

Prisoners have “much better chances in a hospital, but that’s not their situation,” said a senior member of Wexford’s health care team in a deposition.

“I didn’t put them in prison,” he added. “They are in there for a reason.”

Markus Mison Johnson was born on March 1, 1998, to a mother who believed she was not capable of caring for him.

Days after his birth, he was taken in by Lisa Barker Johnson, a foster mother in her 30s who lived in Zion, Ill., a working-class city halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Markus eventually became one of four children she adopted from different families.

The Johnson house is a lively split level, with nieces, nephews, grandchildren and neighbors’ children, family keepsakes, video screens and juice boxes. Ms. Johnson sits at its center on a kitchen chair, chin resting on her hand as children wander over to share their thoughts, or to tug on her T-shirt to ask her to be their bathroom buddy.

From the start, her bond with Markus was particularly powerful, in part because the two looked so much alike, with distinctive dimpled smiles. Many neighbors assumed he was her biological son. The middle name she chose for him was intended to convey that message.

“Mison is short for ‘my son,’” she said standing over his modest footstone grave last summer.

He was happy at home. School was different. His grades were good, but he was intensely shy and was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in elementary school.

That was around the time the bullying began. His sisters were fierce defenders, but they could only do so much. He did the best he could, developing a quick, taunting tongue.

These experiences filled him with a powerful yearning to fit in.

It was not to be.

When he was around 15, he called 911 in a panic, telling the dispatcher he saw two men standing near the small park next to his house threatening to abduct children playing there. The officers who responded found nothing out of the ordinary, and rang the Johnsons’ doorbell.

He later told his mother he had heard a voice telling him to “protect the kids.”

He was hospitalized for the first time at 16, and given medications that stabilized him for stretches of time. But the crises would strike every six months or so, often triggered by his decision to stop taking his medication.

His family became adept at reading signs he was “getting sick.” He would put on his tan Timberlands and a heavy winter coat, no matter the season, and perch on the edge of his bed as if bracing for battle. Sometimes, he would cook his own food, paranoid that someone might poison him.

He graduated six months early, on the dean’s list, but was rudderless, and hanging out with younger boys, often paying their way.

His mother pointed out the perils of buying friendship.

“I don’t care,” he said. “At least I’ll be popular for a minute.”

Zion’s inviting green grid of Bible-named streets belies the reality that it is a rough, unforgiving place to grow up. Family members say Markus wanted desperately to prove he was tough, and emulated his younger, reckless group of friends.

Like many of them, he obtained a pistol. He used it to hold up a convenience store clerk for $425 in January 2017, according to police records. He cut a plea deal for two years of probation, and never explained to his family what had made him do it.

But he kept getting into violent confrontations. In late July 2018, he was arrested in a neighbor’s garage with a handgun he later admitted was his. He was still on probation for the robbery, and his public defender negotiated a plea deal that would send him to state prison until January 2020.

An inpatient mental health system

Around 40 percent of the about 1.8 million people in local, state and federal jails and prison suffer from at least one mental illness, and many of these people have concurrent issues with substance abuse, according to recent Justice Department estimates.

Psychological problems, often exacerbated by drug use, often lead to significant medical problems resulting from a lack of hygiene or access to good health care.

“When you suffer depression in the outside world, it’s hard to concentrate, you have reduced energy, your sleep is disrupted, you have a very gloomy outlook, so you stop taking care of yourself,” said Robert L. Trestman , a Virginia Tech medical school professor who has worked on state prison mental health reforms.

The paradox is that prison is often the only place where sick people have access to even minimal care.

But the harsh work environment, remote location of many prisons, and low pay have led to severe shortages of corrections staff and the unwillingness of doctors, nurses and counselors to work with the incarcerated mentally ill.

In the early 2000s, prisoners’ rights lawyers filed a class-action lawsuit against Illinois claiming “deliberate indifference” to the plight of about 5,000 mentally ill prisoners locked in segregated units and denied treatment and medication.

In 2014, the parties reached a settlement that included minimum staffing mandates, revamped screening protocols, restrictions on the use of solitary confinement and the allocation of about $100 million to double capacity in the system’s specialized mental health units.

Yet within six months of the deal, Pablo Stewart, an independent monitor chosen to oversee its enforcement, declared the system to be in a state of emergency.

Over the years, some significant improvements have been made. But Dr. Stewart’s final report , drafted in 2022, gave the system failing marks for its medication and staffing policies and reliance on solitary confinement “crisis watch” cells.

Ms. Grady, one of Mr. Johnson’s lawyers, cited an additional problem: a lack of coordination between corrections staff and Wexford’s professionals, beyond dutifully filling out dozens of mandated status reports.

“Markus Johnson was basically documented to death,” she said.

‘I’m just trying to keep my head up’

Mr. Johnson was not exactly looking forward to prison. But he saw it as an opportunity to learn a trade so he could start a family when he got out.

On Dec. 18, 2018, he arrived at a processing center in Joliet, where he sat for an intake interview. He was coherent and cooperative, well-groomed and maintained eye contact. He was taking his medication, not suicidal and had a hearty appetite. He was listed as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 256 pounds.

Mr. Johnson described his mood as “go with the flow.”

A few days later, after arriving in Danville, he offered a less settled assessment during a telehealth visit with a Wexford psychiatrist, Dr. Nitin Thapar. Mr. Johnson admitted to being plagued by feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and “constant uncontrollable worrying” that affected his sleep.

He told Dr. Thapar he had heard voices in the past — but not now — telling him he was a failure, and warning that people were out to get him.

At the time he was incarcerated, the basic options for mentally ill people in Illinois prisons included placement in the general population or transfer to a special residential treatment program at the Dixon Correctional Center, west of Chicago. Mr. Johnson seemed out of immediate danger, so he was assigned to a standard two-man cell in the prison’s general population, with regular mental health counseling and medication.

Things started off well enough. “I’m just trying to keep my head up,” he wrote to his mother. “Every day I learn to be stronger & stronger.”

But his daily phone calls back home hinted at friction with other inmates. And there was not much for him to do after being turned down for a janitorial training program.

Then, in the spring of 2019, his grandmother died, sending him into a deep hole.

Dr. Thapar prescribed a new drug used to treat major depressive disorders. Its most common side effect is weight gain. Mr. Johnson stopped taking it.

On July 4, he told Dr. Thapar matter-of-factly during a telehealth check-in that he was no longer taking any of his medications. “I’ve been feeling normal, I guess,” he said. “I feel like I don’t need the medication anymore.”

Dr. Thapar said he thought that was a mistake, but accepted the decision and removed Mr. Johnson from his regular mental health caseload — instructing him to “reach out” if he needed help, records show.

The pace of calls back home slackened. Mr. Johnson spent more time in bed, and became more surly. At a group-therapy session, he sat stone silent, after showing up late.

By early August, he was telling guards he had stopped eating.

At some point, no one knows when, he had intermittently stopped drinking fluids.

‘I’m having a breakdown’

Then came the crash.

On Aug. 12, Mr. Johnson got into a fight with his older cellmate.

He was taken to a one-man disciplinary cell. A few hours later, Wexford’s on-site mental health counselor, Melanie Easton, was shocked by his disoriented condition. Mr. Johnson stared blankly, then burst into tears when asked if he had “suffered a loss in the previous six months.”

He was so unresponsive to her questions she could not finish the evaluation.

Ms. Easton ordered that he be moved to a 9-foot by 8-foot crisis cell — solitary confinement with enhanced monitoring. At this moment, a supervisor could have ticked the box for “residential treatment” on a form to transfer him to Dixon. That did not happen, according to records and depositions.

Around this time, he asked to be placed back on his medication but nothing seems to have come of it, records show.

By mid-August, he said he was visualizing “people that were not there,” according to case notes. At first, he was acting more aggressively, once flicking water at a guard through a hole in his cell door. But his energy ebbed, and he gradually migrated downward — from standing to bunk to floor.

“I’m having a breakdown,” he confided to a Wexford employee.

At the time, inmates in Illinois were required to declare an official hunger strike before prison officials would initiate protocols, including blood testing or forced feedings. But when a guard asked Mr. Johnson why he would not eat, he said he was “fasting,” as opposed to starving himself, and no action seems to have been taken.

‘Tell me this is OK!’

Lt. Matthew Morrison, one of the few people at Danville to take a personal interest in Mr. Johnson, reported seeing a white rind around his mouth in early September. He told other staff members the cell gave off “a death smell,” according to a deposition.

On Sept. 5, they moved Mr. Johnson to one of six cells adjacent to the prison’s small, bare-bones infirmary. Prison officials finally placed him on the official hunger strike protocol without his consent.

Mr. Morrison, in his deposition, said he was troubled by the inaction of the Wexford staff, and the lack of urgency exhibited by the medical director, Dr. Justin Young.

On Sept. 5, Mr. Morrison approached Dr. Young to express his concerns, and the doctor agreed to order blood and urine tests. But Dr. Young lived in Chicago, and was on site at the prison about four times a week, according to Mr. Kaplan. Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, was not one of those days.

Mr. Morrison arrived at work that morning, expecting to find Mr. Johnson’s testing underway. A Wexford nurse told him Dr. Young believed the tests could wait.

Mr. Morrison, stunned, asked her to call Dr. Young.

“He’s good till Monday,” Dr. Young responded, according to Mr. Morrison.

“Come on, come on, look at this guy! You tell me this is OK!” the officer responded.

Eventually, Justin Duprey, a licensed nurse practitioner and the most senior Wexford employee on duty that day, authorized the test himself.

Mr. Morrison, thinking he had averted a disaster, entered the cell and implored Mr. Johnson into taking the tests. He refused.

So prison officials obtained approval to remove him forcibly from his cell.

‘Oh, my God’

What happened next is documented in video taken from cameras held by officers on the extraction team and obtained by The Times through a court order.

Mr. Johnson is scarcely recognizable as the neatly groomed 21-year-old captured in a cellphone picture a few months earlier. His skin is ashen, eyes fixed on the middle distance. He might be 40. Or 60.

At first, he places his hands forward through the hole in his cell door to be cuffed. This is against procedure, the officers shout. His hands must be in back.

He will not, or cannot, comply. He wanders to the rear of his cell and falls hard. Two blasts of pepper spray barely elicit a reaction. The leader of the tactical team later said he found it unusual and unnerving.

The next video is in the medical unit. A shield is pressed to his chest. He is in agony, begging for them to stop, as two nurses attempt to insert a catheter.

Then they move him, half-conscious and limp, onto a wheelchair for the blood draw.

For the next 20 minutes, the Wexford nurse performing the procedure, Angelica Wachtor, jabs hands and arms to find a vessel that will hold shape. She winces with each puncture, tries to comfort him, and grows increasingly rattled.

“Oh, my God,” she mutters, and asks why help is not on the way.

She did not request assistance or discuss calling 911, records indicate.

“Can you please stop — it’s burning real bad,” Mr. Johnson said.

Soon after, a member of the tactical team reminds Ms. Wachtor to take Mr. Johnson’s vitals before taking him back to his cell. She would later tell Dr. Young she had been unable to able to obtain his blood pressure.

“You good?” one of the team members asks as they are preparing to leave.

“Yeah, I’ll have to be,” she replies in the recording.

Officers lifted him back onto his bunk, leaving him unconscious and naked except for a covering draped over his groin. His expressionless face is visible through the window on the cell door as it closes.

‘Cardiac arrest.’

Mr. Duprey, the nurse practitioner, had been sitting inside his office after corrections staff ordered him to shelter for his own protection, he said. When he emerged, he found Ms. Wachtor sobbing, and after a delay, he was let into the cell. Finding no pulse, Mr. Duprey asked a prison employee to call 911 so Mr. Johnson could be taken to a local emergency room.

The Wexford staff initiated CPR. It did not work.

At 3:38 p.m., the paramedics declared Markus Mison Johnson dead.

Afterward, a senior official at Danville called the Johnson family to say he had died of “cardiac arrest.”

Lisa Johnson pressed for more information, but none was initially forthcoming. She would soon receive a box hastily crammed with his possessions: uneaten snacks, notebooks, an inspirational memoir by a man who had served 20 years at Leavenworth.

Later, Shiping Bao, the coroner who examined his body, determined Mr. Johnson had died of severe dehydration. He told the state police it “was one of the driest bodies he had ever seen.”

For a long time, Ms. Johnson blamed herself. She says that her biggest mistake was assuming that the state, with all its resources, would provide a level of care comparable to what she had been able to provide her son.

She had stopped accepting foster care children while she was raising Markus and his siblings. But as the months dragged on, she decided her once-boisterous house had become oppressively still, and let local agencies know she was available again.

“It is good to have children around,” she said. “It was too quiet around here.”

Read by Glenn Thrush

Audio produced by Jack D’Isidoro .

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice. He joined The Times in 2017 after working for Politico, Newsday, Bloomberg News, The New York Daily News, The Birmingham Post-Herald and City Limits. More about Glenn Thrush

Advertisement

Posted by Sponsored Post Posted on 8 May 2024

How essay writing may be helpful for mental health.

We cannot afford to ignore the mental health menace. Mental health has been hidden behind a curtain of stigma and discrimination for too long. It’s time to bring it out into the open. The magnitude, suffering, and burden in terms of disability and costs for individuals, families, and societies are staggering. But we have made notable progress. In the last few years, the world has become more aware of this enormous burden and the potential for mental health gains. As the condition continues to garner attention globally, various ways to manage it have been proposed, and writing is one of them. Writing can be a self-care method for many; it helps unwind and de-stress. You can use creative writing as a way of connecting with others. Sharing tales and perspectives while also learning from and supporting one another is equally helpful. Besides, writing about difficult situations can help us healthily release our feelings.

Nowadays, students and professionals increasingly seek help from online writing services to manage their demanding schedules and complex assignments. As academic pressures mount, these services have become essential tools for many. They offer tailored assistance that can significantly impact the success of their users. Among the many platforms available, Customwritings.com provides high-quality, personalized writing services. They offer relief from the stress of deadlines and enhance students’ understanding and execution of academic projects. They emphasize originality and quality, thus aligning perfectly with the needs of students seeking dependable and ethical academic support.

Besides, the Customwritings Facebook page exemplifies how digital engagement can enhance customer service and community building. This social media extension allows the platform to maintain an ongoing dialogue with its users, offering them immediate updates, academic tips, and responses to their inquiries. They relieve the burden of writing, editing, and proofreading, which can cause stress and worry for students and professionals. Thus, it is not just a promotional tool but a crucial element of their support system. It is a space for users to share experiences, discuss academic challenges, and find motivation. But how is essay writing helpful for mental health?

The Benefits of Essay Writing on Mental Health

Essay writing is more than just an academic exercise. I bet you didn’t know that it has tangible benefits for mental health as well. Writing essays can act as a therapeutic activity, helping individuals to clarify their thoughts, express their feelings, and communicate more effectively. Let us explore the specific benefits of essay writing on mental health.

• Stress reduction

Writing and depression, stress, or anxiety are connected. Numerous studies have proven that using journaling to express your feelings helps people overcome traumatic events, reduce feelings of stress and emotional tension, and even boost our physical health. Similarly, writing essays allows individuals to express their thoughts and feelings on paper, which can be therapeutic. Organizing one’s thoughts to write coherently forces a level of focus that can divert attention away from stressors. This concentration can lower stress levels by providing a temporary escape from other pressures. It leads to a relief that is productive and calming.

• Enhanced self-expression

Essay writing develops one’s ability to articulate personal views and emotions. This skill is crucial for effective communication and personal expression. Regularly engaging in essay writing makes individuals more comfortable expressing complex ideas and deep feelings, contributing to better interpersonal relationships and greater personal authenticity. We all know that expressing oneself clearly increases self-confidence and self-understanding.

• Improved emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage your own emotions and understand the feelings of people around you. The reflective nature of essay writing helps individuals understand their feelings and the situations that trigger them. This reflection is a critical component of emotional intelligence. By writing about their experiences and reactions, students can observe patterns in their emotional responses and develop better strategies for managing their emotions.

• Enhanced cognitive abilities

Writing is beneficial to cognitive skills because it requires focusing attention, planning and forethought, organization of one’s thinking, and reflective thought, among other abilities. The essay writing process involves critical thinking, organization, and analysis, which are all cognitively demanding tasks. This complex process can help sharpen the mind and improve cognitive functions. And that’s not all. Regular practice of these skills can lead to improved memory, better problem-solving skills, and higher intellectual engagement.

• Increased focus and discipline

You must stay focused for prolonged periods if you want to meet deadlines. Writing an essay requires a significant amount of focus and discipline, especially to complete it from start to finish. This practice can enhance your ability to concentrate on tasks for extended periods. Over time, your discipline translates into improved productivity and efficiency in various aspects of life, not just academic or professional settings.

• Better mood management

Research shows that writing about traumatic, stressful, or emotional events improves physical and psychological health. In the same way, the essay writing process can lead to an improved mood among students. By engaging in the creative and analytical process of essay writing, individuals can experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Besides, expressing troubling thoughts or difficult emotions through writing can act as a release mechanism. It clears the mind and improves the overall mood.

• Develops problem-solving skills

Essays often require writers to explore different perspectives and propose solutions. This process naturally develops problem-solving skills. Professors require students to consider various angles and potential outcomes when they ask students to write essays and research papers. They know that writing enhances students’ ability to navigate challenges in their personal and professional lives, leading to more effective decision-making and problem-resolution.

• Promotes mindfulness

Writing is a social-emotional health exercise. It can be a mindful practice to stay in the present moment and calm the mind. Think of writing as an activity for you to recalibrate your mindset to a more positive setting. Writing takes time. It requires you to slow down, channel, focus, imagine, and organize thoughts, emotions, and tone. In this way, essay writing is a mindful practice, meaning you are grounded in the present moment to reflect and respond to what your senses have noticed. This practice of mindfulness can decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and promote a general understanding of mental well-being. Being present in the moment during the writing process anchors the mind. It reduces the tendency to worry about past or future events.

Take Care of Your Mental Health Through Writing!

Harness the therapeutic power of essay writing to enhance your mental health. Make it a regular practice. Write regularly. The benefits are vast, as we’ve discussed herein. You’ll experience decreased stress, improved self-expression, and increased emotional intelligence. Essay writing polishes your cognitive abilities and helps develop discipline and focus. Each essay you write is not just an academic exercise. It’s a step towards understanding and improving your mental well-being.

Share This Article

Latest Articles

Covid' Fake Vaccines Linked to Rare Type of Deadly...

Blinken Announces $2 Billion in Military Aid for U...

Cochrane Founder Peter Gøtzsche: Healthcare is Mu...

Fanatics Call for Climate ‘Deniers’ to Be Jail...

Debunking the Cheap Renewables Myth

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is developing “smart ea...

Popular articles.

Are We Making Our Own Choices... Or Are They Being...

AstraZeneca Withdraws Fake Vaccine Worldwide - Dav...

Zero Tolerance For Freedom - The Rise And Rise Of ...

2024 UK Tour Tickets Now Available

Featured News View All

David Icke 1970s Era Goalkeeping Shirt - 25% Off A...

Exposing The Carbon Credit Coup - Gareth Icke Talk...

They have been hiding this from you since the perc...

A Nanny State Idiocracy: A Tale of Too Many Laws a...

Trudeau's Orwellian Online Harms Bill - David Icke...

Mass numbers of illegal migrants pouring into West...

From one colonial master to another; China’s ong...

Whooping cough vaccination; A story of dishonesty ...

I have been saying this for 30 years while people ...

Encouraging News from the Alternative/Integrative ...

What the 'solution' really is ...

Self-Replicating Nanobots Found in both the Vaxxed...

Copyright © 2024 David Icke Books Limited. All Rights Reserved.