Can you pick up a pen and some paper and write your way well? Research is saying you most definitely can. And, no, you don’t have to be a “writer.” You only have to be willing to put down your thoughts, ideas, emotions and more, honestly.

Here are some examples of how writing or journaling can improve your health:

• Writing down your thoughts and feelings after a traumatic event can make physical wounds heal faster, according to a study from New Zealand researchers. In this study, participants were assigned to write in a journal either about their deepest, most innermost thoughts and feelings, or about anything except their feelings or beliefs. After two weeks, skin biopsies were done that left a wound on their arms. Researchers followed up until those wounds healed and found that those assigned to expressively write in journals had faster healing times than those told to avoid writing about their feelings.
• Another study showed expressive writing (personal and emotional writing with no worry about grammar and the like) improved cancer patients’ quality of life. Even three weeks after stopping the journaling experiment, those involved still felt the good effects.
• Yet another found that those who, before bed, wrote for 15 minutes about what they’re grateful for enjoyed longer and better sleep.
• Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Expressive writing also has been linked with improved mood, well-being, stress levels and depressive symptoms as well as more physical benefits like lower blood pressure, improved lung and liver functioning, and decreased time spent in the hospital.

Hint: I swear this works better when you take pen in hand and put it to real paper. Nothing electronic. There’s something about the power, the touch, the feel of pen (or pencil) to paper that amps up the magic.