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I have always found analog writing to be a powerful cognitive tool. Writing changes your thoughts from abstract to concrete - and once a thought is "out of you
by growingkittens 3y ago
I have always found analog writing to be a powerful cognitive tool.
Writing changes your thoughts from abstract to concrete - and once a thought is "out of your head" on paper, it becomes an entity that you can perform additional thought operations on (which you can then write down...etc.).
Analog writing also leaves visual evidence of your thought process across a page. Most digital writing tools allow you to make the thought process disappear completely as you work. Having evidence of your thought process allows you to evaluate your thought process. Very important in any kind of problem solving exercise.
As a child, I found that writing down a thought that bothered me made it go away and freed my brain up to do kid stuff.
- BeetleB 3y agoThe study found that merely writing it on paper was insufficient, though. The point of the study is crumpling it up and throwing it is superior.
- growingkittens 3y agoThe study looked at keeping a paper around (underlying situation: a reminder active in a workspace) vs. throwing it away (underlying situation: removing a constant reminder). They didn't study anything in-between, such as removing the reminder without throwing it away.
- malfist 3y agoYeah, to your point, I'm curious how writing about frustrations/anger in a journal that you never revisit would compare to their treatment. It seems to help me.
- dotancohen 3y agoWould you mind telling more about your journaling? If you would prefer in private, my Gmail username is the same as my HN username. Thank you!
- 3523582908 3y agoNot the original poster, but I do the same. I have a private "therapy/ranting journal" that I use to just write out all my negative thoughts and dump it in there. I find it extremely safe and refreshing to do so. It's mentally the equivalent to me as "throwing it away" because I don't keep my negativity journals. Even if you don't throw away the journal I still highly recommend the practice. It's honestly helped me get through so many difficult situations.
- dotancohen 3y agoI'd certainly appreciate it if you'd contact me too, then. Thank you!