Why YOU need to start writing
It doesn't have to be seen by others. Just start.
Writing is a form of creative freedom.
Every day, people around the world scroll. Reading tweets, watching clips, or saving quotes that make them think “hmmm, I should try this,” only to have that thought fade away into the noise. The best way to mitigate the noise is to slow down. How do we slow down? Write.
Writing, even if it’s just for yourself, is how to reclaim your mind.
You are drowning in content
We are not made to read or watch something new every few seconds for hours on end.
Just like trying to hold a conversation during a loud rock concert, it’s nearly impossible to properly convey ideas with all the information being flooded into our minds. FOMO drags you into the next video, article, or controversial opinion.
Quiet places have rapidly disappeared. The internet is only about 30 years old, yet it seems like it is everywhere. All of human knowledge is more accessible than it has ever been.
In the past, it was easier to think through direct conversation or self-reflection.
When was the last time you sat alone with your own thoughts without input?
Writing as an antidote
Writing slows you down.
It demands attention. Not from others, but from yourself. You are forced to create something.
Writing can turn vague feelings into clarity.
For example, keeping a journal of your day helps you unwind and analyze. Blogging rewrites lessons learned in your own words. Copying quotes down on sticky notes for your wall keeps them at hand.
Writing doesn’t have to be about becoming an accomplished author. It’s about processing what you know.
Sharing your writing should be secondary. Who cares if your writing isn’t good?
There’s a beauty in simply throwing your thoughts down and seeing what kind of rabbit hole you jump into. You don’t need good grammar or ideas that resonate with everyone.
How to start
The first step is building a habit.
Make a goal of writing one paragraph a day. Just a few minutes. Choose a medium like an app (Notion, Obsidian, etc), a notebook, a blog, or literally anything else you can record information on.
Once you have your medium, make a ritual out of it. Combine it with something you already do each day.
Sitting down for a coffee? Write. Lying in bed at night? Write.
Reduce the amount of friction as much as possible. Make it difficult not to write.
After writing a while, you might notice that you: see more details, listen better, and feel more grounded.
Scrolling will lose its grip, and your brain will have something better to do.