Writing a diary can have a positive impact on our mental health, according to experts. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, started writing diary entries during the Covid crisis as a way to protect his mental well-being. He did not intend for them to be published, but rather saw it as a therapeutic ritual to help him process his thoughts and emotions. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel explains that writing down our feelings can release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and even improve our immune system and mood. The act of writing itself can be calming and clarifying.
Whether diaries are meant to be private or shared with others, the release of emotions through writing can have a soothing effect. However, some diarists, like former doctor Adam Kay, find that writing for a wider audience changes the way they explain things. While their entries may be better written, they may not provide the same psychological benefit because the knowledge of potential publication can affect their authenticity and vulnerability.
Writing a diary has a long history of being a therapeutic tool. Many well-known diarists, such as Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank, have captured the public’s imagination with their personal accounts. Diaries not only offer individuals an outlet for creativity and self-expression but also serve as valuable historical sources. They can provide insights into daily life, personal events, and original responses to past events that official sources may overlook.
However, there can be downsides to keeping a diary. Some people may feel guilty if they don’t keep up with regular entries. Additionally, diaries are not always as private as intended, and the possibility of others reading them can create discomfort or upset. It takes effort and discipline to maintain a regular writing practice, and some diarists may selectively include or exclude information for their own purposes.
In the case of Sir Patrick Vallance, his diary entries unexpectedly became public and added to the criticisms of the government’s pandemic response. Whether he found the transformation therapeutic or not is something only he can tell his diary. Overall, writing a diary can be a valuable tool for mental health, allowing individuals to process their thoughts and emotions, regulate their mood, and gain insights into their own experiences.
Original news source: Can writing a diary protect your mental health? (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will choose a diary-related word or phrase from the article and act it out without speaking. The other groups will try to guess what they are portraying. Encourage the use of gestures, body language, and facial expressions to communicate the word or phrase.
– News Summary
Instructions: Ask each student to read the article individually and write a summary of the main points. Then, have them pair up and share their summaries with each other. After discussing their summaries, they can create a combined summary that includes the most important information from both of their perspectives.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into groups and assign each group a statement related to the topic of writing a diary. For example, “Writing a diary is essential for mental health” or “Writing a diary is not necessary for mental well-being.” Each group will discuss the statement and come up with arguments to support their opinion. Then, they will present their arguments to the class and conduct a poll to see which opinion is most popular among the students.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Create a list of vocabulary words from the article related to writing a diary. Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a set of vocabulary words. One student from each pair will draw a picture to represent a word while the other student tries to guess the word. Encourage the use of gestures and facial expressions to communicate the word.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a different aspect of writing a diary to discuss. For example, one group can discuss the pros of keeping a diary, while another group discusses the cons. Each group will brainstorm ideas and then present their arguments to the class. After hearing all the arguments, the class can have a discussion and try to reach a consensus on the overall benefits and drawbacks of writing a diary.
Comprehension Questions:
1. According to experts, what impact can writing a diary have on our mental health?
2. Why did Sir Patrick Vallance start writing diary entries during the Covid crisis?
3. How can writing down our feelings in a diary benefit our mental health?
4. What effect can the act of writing itself have on our mental well-being?
5. How does writing for a wider audience potentially change the way diarists explain things?
6. What are some historical examples of well-known diarists?
7. Besides personal accounts and self-expression, what other value do diaries have?
8. What are some potential downsides to keeping a diary?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Writing a (1)______ can have a (2)______ impact on our mental health, according to experts. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, started (3)______ diary entries during the Covid crisis as a way to protect his mental well-being. He did not intend for them to be published, but rather saw it as a therapeutic ritual to help him process his thoughts and emotions. Psychotherapist Julia (4)______ explains that writing down our feelings can release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and even improve our immune system and mood. The act of writing itself can be calming and clarifying.
Whether diaries are meant to be private or shared with others, the release of emotions through writing can have a soothing effect. However, some diarists, like former doctor Adam Kay, find that writing for a wider (5)______ changes the way they explain (6)______. While their entries may be better written, they may not provide the same psychological benefit because the (7)______ of potential publication can affect their authenticity and vulnerability.
(8)______ a diary has a long history of being a therapeutic tool. Many well-known diarists, such as Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank, have captured the public’s imagination with their personal accounts. Diaries not only offer (9)______ an outlet for creativity and self-expression but also serve as valuable historical sources. They can provide insights into daily life, personal events, and original responses to past events that official sources may overlook.
However, there can be downsides to keeping a diary. Some people may feel guilty if they don’t keep up with (10)______ entries. Additionally, diaries are not always as private as intended, and the possibility of (11)______ reading them can (12)______ discomfort or upset. It takes effort and discipline to maintain a regular writing practice, and some diarists may selectively (13)______ or (14)______ information for their own purposes.
In the case of Sir Patrick Vallance, his diary entries unexpectedly became public and added to the (15)______ of the government’s pandemic response. Whether he found the (16)______ therapeutic or not is something only he can tell his diary. Overall, writing a diary can be a valuable tool for mental health, allowing individuals to process their thoughts and emotions, regulate their mood, and gain insights into their own experiences.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is the purpose of writing a diary?
2. How would you feel if your diary entries were unexpectedly made public?
3. Do you think writing a diary can really have a positive impact on mental health? Why or why not?
4. What is the difference between writing a private diary and writing for a wider audience?
5. How do you think writing down your feelings can help regulate anxiety and stress?
6. Do you like the idea of keeping a diary? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the act of writing itself can be calming and clarifying?
8. What are some potential downsides to keeping a diary?
9. Have you ever kept a diary? If so, did you find it helpful for processing your thoughts and emotions?
10. How do you think writing a diary can help improve our immune system and mood?
11. What is the value of diaries as historical sources?
12. How do you think writing a diary can help with self-expression and creativity?
13. How would you feel if someone read your diary without your permission?
14. Do you think it takes effort and discipline to maintain a regular writing practice? Why or why not?
15. How do you think writing a diary can help individuals gain insights into their own experiences?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. diary
2. mental health
3. therapeutic
4. emotions
5. publication
6. historical sources
7. discomfort
8. insights
Meanings:
(a) The act of making something available to the public
(b) A feeling of unease or distress
(c) Having a healing or soothing effect
(d) Documents or materials that provide information about the past
(e) A deeper understanding or knowledge gained from something
(f) The state of one’s psychological well-being
(g) A personal record of thoughts and experiences
(h) Strong feelings or reactions
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. According to experts, writing a diary can have a positive impact on our:
(a) physical health
(b) mental health
(c) social life
(d) financial situation
2. Sir Patrick Vallance started writing diary entries during the Covid crisis as a way to:
(a) protect his mental well-being
(b) document historical events
(c) improve his writing skills
(d) share his thoughts with others
3. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel explains that writing down our feelings can:
(a) make us more creative and expressive
(b) help us become famous diarists
(c) increase our social connections
(d) release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and improve our immune system and mood
4. Writing a diary can have a soothing effect whether it is meant to be:
(a) published for the public to read
(b) kept as a historical source
(c) private or shared with others
(d) used for academic research
5. Some diarists find that writing for a wider audience changes the way they explain things because:
(a) they become more creative and expressive
(b) the knowledge of potential publication can affect their authenticity and vulnerability
(c) it helps them gain insights into their own experiences
(d) it improves their mental well-being
6. Diaries not only offer individuals an outlet for creativity and self-expression but also serve as:
(a) therapy sessions
(b) financial investments
(c) social connections
(d) valuable historical sources
7. Some downsides to keeping a diary include:
(a) having to spend money on writing materials
(b) the need to become a famous diarist
(c) feeling guilty if entries are not kept up regularly and the possibility of others reading them
(d) the risk of losing the diary and all its contents
8. Writing a diary can be a valuable tool for mental health because it allows individuals to:
(a) process their thoughts and emotions, regulate their mood, and gain insights into their own experiences
(b) become famous diarists
(c) improve their writing skills
(d) make money from publishing their diaries
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. The release of emotions through writing can have a soothing effect, whether the diary is private or shared with others.
2. Some people may feel guilty if they keep up with regular diary entries.
3. Writing for a wider audience can change the way diarists explain things and may affect the psychological benefit of writing.
4. The possibility of others reading diaries can create comfort or upset, and diarists may selectively include or exclude information for their own purposes.
5. Diaries have a long history of being a therapeutic tool and serve as valuable historical sources.
6. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, stopped writing diary entries during the Covid crisis for his mental well-being.
7. Writing itself can be calming and clarifying.
8. Writing down our feelings in a diary cannot release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and improve our immune system and mood.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. According to the article, what are some potential benefits of writing a diary for mental health?
2. How does the act of writing itself affect our mental state?
3. What are some potential drawbacks or challenges of keeping a diary?
4. How have well-known diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank impacted the public’s perception of diary writing?
5. How did Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary entries become public and what impact did they have on the government’s pandemic response?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. According to experts, writing a diary can have a positive impact on our mental health.
2. Sir Patrick Vallance started writing diary entries during the Covid crisis as a way to protect his mental well-being.
3. Writing down our feelings in a diary can release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and even improve our immune system and mood.
4. The act of writing itself can be calming and clarifying for our mental well-being.
5. Writing for a wider audience can change the way diarists explain things, as they may be more conscious of potential publication and may not be as authentic or vulnerable in their entries.
6. Some historical examples of well-known diarists are Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank.
7. Besides personal accounts and self-expression, diaries also serve as valuable historical sources that provide insights into daily life, personal events, and original responses to past events that official sources may overlook.
8. Potential downsides to keeping a diary include feeling guilty if entries are not kept up regularly, the possibility of others reading the diary and creating discomfort or upset, and the effort and discipline required to maintain a regular writing practice. Additionally, diarists may selectively include or exclude information for their own purposes.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) diary
(2) positive
(3) writing
(4) Samuel
(5) audience
(6) things
(7) knowledge
(8) Writing
(9) individuals
(10) regular
(11) others
(12) create
(13) include
(14) exclude
(15) criticisms
(16) transformation
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. diary
Answer: (g) A personal record of thoughts and experiences
2. mental health
Answer: (f) The state of one’s psychological well-being
3. therapeutic
Answer: (c) Having a healing or soothing effect
4. emotions
Answer: (h) Strong feelings or reactions
5. publication
Answer: (a) The act of making something available to the public
6. historical sources
Answer: (d) Documents or materials that provide information about the past
7. discomfort
Answer: (b) A feeling of unease or distress
8. insights
Answer: (e) A deeper understanding or knowledge gained from something
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. According to experts, writing a diary can have a positive impact on our:
Answer: (b) mental health
2. Sir Patrick Vallance started writing diary entries during the Covid crisis as a way to:
Answer: (a) protect his mental well-being
3. Psychotherapist Julia Samuel explains that writing down our feelings can:
Answer: (d) release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and improve our immune system and mood
4. Writing a diary can have a soothing effect whether it is meant to be:
Answer: (c) private or shared with others
5. Some diarists find that writing for a wider audience changes the way they explain things because:
Answer: (b) the knowledge of potential publication can affect their authenticity and vulnerability
6. Diaries not only offer individuals an outlet for creativity and self-expression but also serve as:
Answer: (d) valuable historical sources
7. Some downsides to keeping a diary include:
Answer: (c) feeling guilty if entries are not kept up regularly and the possibility of others reading them
8. Writing a diary can be a valuable tool for mental health because it allows individuals to:
Answer: (a) process their thoughts and emotions, regulate their mood, and gain insights into their own experiences
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The release of emotions through writing can have a soothing effect, whether the diary is private or shared with others. (Answer: True)
2. Some people may feel guilty if they keep up with regular diary entries. (Answer: False)
3. Writing for a wider audience can change the way diarists explain things and may affect the psychological benefit of writing. (Answer: True)
4. The possibility of others reading diaries can create comfort or upset, and diarists may selectively include or exclude information for their own purposes. (Answer: False)
5. Diaries have a long history of being a therapeutic tool and serve as valuable historical sources. (Answer: True)
6. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK’s chief scientific adviser, stopped writing diary entries during the Covid crisis for his mental well-being. (Answer: False)
7. Writing itself can be calming and clarifying. (Answer: True)
8. Writing down our feelings in a diary cannot release emotions, regulate anxiety and stress, and improve our immune system and mood. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
