If magazines are anything to judge by, modern society is obsessed with health. We try yoga, marathons, spinach smoothies, and protein powders all in an attempt to become healthier people. But sometimes less physical activities also improve human health. One of those activities is writing.

Researcher James W. Pennebaker explains that when writing, people “experience improved health. They go to the doctor less. They have changes in immune function.” Researchers have also found that different types of writing result in different medical outcomes.

Expressive writing seems to be correlated with the most positive health outcomes. Expressive writing is writing about events that are stressful, traumatic, or otherwise emotionally charged. It could be about a relationship, the death of a loved one, an illness, trouble at work or something similar. In general, patients who write expressive pieces for 15-20  minutes a day for 3-5 days begin to report significant benefits and increased…