5 Life-Affirming Benefits of Writing Letters By Hand, According to Research

Letter writing - by hand - is linked with mental health benefits.

Letter-writing may seem like a lost art form. However, during the initial quarantine and beyond, statistics showed an increase in sales of notecards and writing papers. TikTok's hashtag #penpal has over 192 million views and penpal communities are increasing globally.

• Letter writing helps develop a strong sense of accomplishment. Typing text takes seconds, but spending intentional time creating a letter will give you a greater sense of accomplishment.
• It increases clarity and gives a new perspective. Writing engages a different part of the brain and helps to view ideas from another angle.
• It fosters connections and deepens relationships. The recipient feels that they are important to you.
• It creates anticipation of a letter arriving and boosts your happiness.
• Gratitude letters are directly related to happiness.