When was the last time you’ve sent someone a letter? Whether it be to a loved one you haven’t seen in a while or a friend who you’ve been thinking of lately, sending someone a handwritten letter can be beneficial and healthy for yourself, as well as the family and friends you love. Here are the three most valuable reasons why writing handwritten letters can be so beneficial.
1. Improve your mental health
Writing a letter will allow you to take your mind off any stressful events that may be occurring in your life and will help brighten your day even when it’s cloudy. Focusing on the lovely person you’re writing to means less attention to the negative people that may be in your life. Compared to talking in person or over the phone, writing a letter gives you time to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it, allowing for your words to have more meaning than they might have had during a conversation.
2. Express yourself
Everyone needs ways to express themselves. You may already express yourself by playing an instrument or painting a “beautiful” picture, but you can also express yourself through writing a letter. Maybe you want to draw a funny picture that references something you and your recipient always laugh at, or maybe you want to design a nice border around your letter to give it more style. Whatever it may be, the way you customize your letter is only limitless to your imagination.
3. Diversify the way you communicate
When was the last time you contacted someone without using your phone or any other device? 91% of the population owns a phone, and this number will only continue to increase each year. Letters hold more value than any form of digital communication. You can save a letter for a great memory or hang it on your fridge so you can read it occasionally to brighten your day. Even just receiving a physical letter in the mail is ten times more enjoyable than receiving a text on your phone. Why not try to make a change in your life by writing a letter instead of sending a text?
Give it a try
If you’re still not sure whether you want to write someone a letter, take in the words of the great actor, Steve Carell: “Sending a handwritten letter is becoming such an anomaly. It’s disappearing. My mom is the only one who still writes me letters, and there’s something visceral about opening a letter – I see her on the page. I see her in her handwriting”.
We also have information on The Power of Letters.