During the all too commonplace frantic day, clarity can be hard to come by. There are times when we wrack our brains, grit our teeth, close our eyes, and clench our fists... grasping for a Eureka moment. But, solutions, novel ideas, and comforting thoughts often come when we least expect them, which is why it's always wise to be prepared, lest they be forgotten.
In this endeavor, you can't always trust your brain to track and sort through these thoughts, so instead, it's best to utilize good ole' pen and paper or -- for the more tech savvy -- an app on your iPhone. Because while paper can be eaten by your dog or a cell phone can be dropped in the toilet, these two mediums are still a much surer repository of wisdom than memory, which can all too often be fleeting. As explained by Professor Alison Preston,
Unfortunately, in our daily lives, we are often bombarded with aforementioned "competing stimuli," making it difficult for this "consolidation" process to run to completion. Distractions from television, work, children, and viral YouTube videos vie for our attention at every turn. Thus, maintaining a journal -- however small -- of our thoughts can help to sort through this confusion.
Keeping a written record of your thoughts and ideas may also give rise to unexpected health benefits. Sorting through stressful experiences on paper has been shown to reduce symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis in patients afflicted with these ailments. This has been reinforced by numerous studies from University of Texas psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker, who is leading a pioneering investigation into the healing powers of writing.
On his website, Pennebaker admits that research on the topic is still in its infancy, but he and his team believe that they have enough preliminary information to claim that writing "about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health."
Whether keeping track of ideas or working through life's experiences, it appears that pen and paper can aid your brain and promote your health.
In this endeavor, you can't always trust your brain to track and sort through these thoughts, so instead, it's best to utilize good ole' pen and paper or -- for the more tech savvy -- an app on your iPhone. Because while paper can be eaten by your dog or a cell phone can be dropped in the toilet, these two mediums are still a much surer repository of wisdom than memory, which can all too often be fleeting. As explained by Professor Alison Preston,
A short-term memory's conversion to long-term memory requires the passage of time, which allows it to become resistant to interference from competing stimuli or disrupting factors such as injury or disease. This time-dependent process of stabilization, whereby our experiences achieve a permanent record in our memory, is referred to as "consolidation."
Unfortunately, in our daily lives, we are often bombarded with aforementioned "competing stimuli," making it difficult for this "consolidation" process to run to completion. Distractions from television, work, children, and viral YouTube videos vie for our attention at every turn. Thus, maintaining a journal -- however small -- of our thoughts can help to sort through this confusion.
Keeping a written record of your thoughts and ideas may also give rise to unexpected health benefits. Sorting through stressful experiences on paper has been shown to reduce symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis in patients afflicted with these ailments. This has been reinforced by numerous studies from University of Texas psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker, who is leading a pioneering investigation into the healing powers of writing.On his website, Pennebaker admits that research on the topic is still in its infancy, but he and his team believe that they have enough preliminary information to claim that writing "about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health."
Whether keeping track of ideas or working through life's experiences, it appears that pen and paper can aid your brain and promote your health.
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