Why Pen-to-Paper Matters Neurologically

Why High Performers Swear By Journaling

Your brain never stops. Emails, decisions, fires to put out, ideas that won't leave you alone at 2 am. And most of that thinking? It stays trapped in your head, never actually going anywhere.

What if there was a way to get it out? To think more clearly, make better decisions, and finally feel like you're operating from a place of clarity instead of chaos?

That’s what this episode is about.

I'm sitting down with Laura L. Rubin, creative coach and author of The Big Unlock, to talk about why journaling isn't a floofy self-care ritual. It's a strategic tool that high performers at Google, Netflix, and beyond are using to sharpen their thinking and lead with more intention. Laura has worked with executives, pro athletes, venture capitalists, even special forces veterans. And what she's found is that the most visionary leaders all have one thing in common: they make space to reflect.

We talk about why writing by hand activates your brain differently than typing, how to build a journaling habit in just four minutes a day, what to write when you have no idea how to start, and how journaling can help you work through feeling stuck in your business and life. 

If you've been curious about journaling but haven’t known how or haven’t stayed consistent, this conversation will change the way you think about it.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

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The Big Unlock by Laura L. Rubin

All Swell Creative

Laura L. Rubin on Instagram

Laura's Substack

All Swell Notebooks

Cross Pen Company

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ The 4x4x4 Method Makes Journaling Doable — Four minutes, four days a week, for four weeks. That's it. You don't need to write pages of deep reflection. You just need to show up consistently enough to build the habit. Plus, what to do if you fall off.

2️⃣ Writing By Hand Changes Your Brain — When you move your hand across paper, synaptic connections fire that just don't happen when you type. Pen to paper forces structured thought and pulls you out of the constant state of react and respond that most of us live in, finally giving you space to think.

3️⃣ Try a Done List Before Bed — At the end of the day, write down all the ways you were a good steward of yourself. Not just the big accomplishments. Did you take your supplements? Go for a walk? Fill your water bottle? Over time, you'll start to see patterns in where you're consistent and where you need more attention. It's a small habit that creates real awareness.MORE FROM ME

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