Behavior Writing Activities

It may seem too simple that a pen and paper or computer's keyboard can streamline your behavior, reduce stress and increase productivity, but implementing a few behavioral activities with writing instruments can have a positive impact. Writing may be as simple as jotting down a few grocery items or as involved as spending a day performing introspection, checking in with yourself and keeping track of how you're feeling. Through writing, you can affect behavior a variety of ways.

Angry Letters

• Whether you're fired up about, disappointed in or just very unhappy with someone, it may be difficult to speak your mind at the risk of alienating your friendship or possibly even getting yourself in trouble, if the person is a boss, superior or family member. Instead of letting the anger eat you away inside, you can turn toward pen and paper (or computer and keyboard) and let your feelings pour out of you. One behavioral activity is to address a letter to the person, even add his mailing address if you know it, then write down everything you feel. You can add big, bold red fonts and as many exclamation marks as you want. Don't hold back; you're not going to actually send the letter. The letter is symbolic, it lets you get your emotions out and off your chest. Then, you have a variety of options. If you hand-wrote the letter, you can crumple it up, stuff it in your garbage disposal, run it through a shredder or even safely light it on fire. If it's on your computer, you can run your mouse over the text so it's highlighted, then press the "Delete" key, or move the file into your desktop recycle bin and empty the bin.

To Do Lists

• One writing behavior you're no doubt familiar with and more than likely have already done at least a few times in your life is the to do list. A to do list may have one item on it or 20 and is used to keep track of goals. Some may be minimal and require only a few moments' time; others may be months-long undertakings. Writing to do lists may be beneficial behavior changers around your house for all family members. Kids can have their own to do lists, with a variety of rewards for checking off items. You can also have a to do list for the whole family, for weekend projects to complete together. A benefit of the to do list is the sense of satisfaction linked to checking off an item or even completing the entire list. Whether you decide on a completion reward (you can write it at the bottom of the list) or not, writing to do lists can be a positive way to keep track of your life.

Journal Stress Reduction

• Stress can come in all forms, it can be a worrisome, nervous kind of stress before a test or a happy stress, where you find yourself stressing that something that hasn't gone wrong may indeed go wrong in the future, even though everything is going well. One way to possibly tackle and reduce stress is through journaling. Also known as diary keeping, writing in a journal can take many forms. Although many stores sell high-end, expensive leather-bound journals, you can take an old stationery scratch pad and begin coping with your stress. Use anything with blank pages and write a source of your stress, such as "kids' softball team," "weight gain" or "dating" at the top of the page. Then, underneath, you can list reasons why stressing about that subject is unreasonable and unhealthy. You can brainstorm options to avoid stress, then add lists of items that reduce your stress, such as petting your cat or chatting with friends online. You'll be able to consult your writing to look for stress reduction options the next time a wave of worry consumes you.