We all know there’s something addictive about writing. It doesn’t matter why we do it; once we pick up a pen, or type on a computer, we can’t stop until we’ve finished telling our stories. We create fantastical worlds that make readers ask just where we get the ideas from, and craft compelling narratives and plots that make our audiences question both themselves and the world around them. And while this, in and of itself, is highly rewarding, there’s more to it than that. In fact, there’s even an entire career field surrounding the therapeutic practices in writing.

And because of this, below are some of these benefits.

Happiness
According to Laura King, writing can reduce stress and improve overall mood. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing in a journal, or publishing a story, or even blogging, writing can help you express emotions you can’t do elsewhere. Have you had a bad day at work? Take it out on your characters. Are you nervous about a crush? Craft a romance between two characters and see how it plays out between them. The written word provides a form of escape from the humdrum of our daily lives, distracting us from all the problems that might’ve overwhelmed us.

As such, it’s not surprising that writing can also help relieve you of any mental toxicity that you’ve built up in your brain, and organize your thoughts so that you can get a better grasp on them. And while it might not be obvious initially, it’s still rewarding to know that you can leave all your emotional baggage at a metaphorical front door.

Self-Awareness
We all want to write good stories. But in order to do this, we have to look through our own experiences and the experience of others. As writers, we’re forced to look at the world around us, to delve into subject matters we might not have otherwise done in other situations. We have to take into account our characters’ perspectives, all the while shaping our message in the story. Writing pushes us to get out of our own shell, and gets us to live in a way that is meaningful to our stories.

Communication
There’s no doubt that communication is important in our everyday life. Whether we’re talking about the latest trends, or venting our frustrations, we have to be able to communicate our emotions in an effective manner, and one way we practice that is through writing. Whether we’re proofreading our next big novel, or simply rereading our emails, we’re developing concise skills that can help us talk with important people in our lives. Even when we’re coming up with rough drafts, we still need to see the ideas swarming in our heads to know which is the right one. It’s a useful skill to have, especially when you aren’t comfortable around people.

Writing is a useful trade. From bolstering mental health, to assisting in everyday life, writing can help you deal with many obstacles we face. But even with all these benefits, it comes down to the simple truth that we enjoy it. Fiction and nonfiction, bloggers and journalists, we all know there’s a wonderful quality of writing we can’t get enough of. And while people make fun of us for it, we can’t help but take pride in it.