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Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Our mission is BIG. We’re here to help you access your innate wisdom and forge a life you love, all through the simple and revolutionary act of putting pen to paper.

Whether you’re new here or have been a part of this community for a while, we wanted to share a bit more about what we do and why we do it…

Our founder @LauraLRubin, a communications pro at the time, launched AllSwell ten years ago with the purpose of educating people about the wide-ranging, meaningful benefits of journaling. Inspired by a surf check that led to a journaling session on the beach, she penned “swell or no swell, all’s well,” sparking the idea for AllSwell.

She recognized that journaling had a bit of a “PR problem” and wanted to invite more people to reap the mental and emotional benefits of putting pen to paper.

With a dedication to quality design and environmental sensitivity, Laura introduced the brand with a suite of products to encourage analog expression and it’s grown it to include original live guided workshops, digital experiences and 1:1 sessions.

Lauded by @TheNewYorkTimes and sought after by major brands and corporations for her workshops and coaching sessions, Laura now uses AllSwell to distill over a decade of experience for this burgeoning community.

Yes, there’s plenty here for wellness junkies and biohackers, including lowering cortisol levels, boosting mood, cultivating intuition, and shifting into a parasympathetic state. And creatives—aspiring or otherwise—will find loads of tools for giving themselves permission to make stuff, firing up their imagination, and busting through the blocks that can hold them back from taking important risks.

But this practice and the resources we provide here are for all of us. Welcome.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Over the years, we’ve been lucky to have our story told by some incredibly thoughtful editors, writers, and platforms we admire deeply. This roundup is a look back at moments we’re proud of — and a thank you to those who’ve helped amplify the AllSwell mission. We’re so grateful.

Are book cover reveals the new gender reveals? Probably not. Regardless, I am pleased to share with you the cover of my forthcoming book, “The Big Unlock.” (!!!)

Through the design process, I tested the cover art out on a cross-section of people I respect.* I wanted to make sure a cis male would feel comfortable publicly reading this book on a plane; that my design-head friends would be proud to have it on their coffee table; that it could work as well in a corporate setting as at a luxury hotel; that it both piques curiosity and upends a few preconceptions about what “a book about journaling” looks like. How’d I do? 

What’s inside? It’s a decade’s worth of my experience leading @allswellcreative workshops, retreats, speaking gigs and creative coaching distilled into a readable, “snackable” book. You can explore it front to back, or skip around and try out the chapters and themes that work for you. Each chapter includes storytelling and multiple prompts, inviting you to dig in. Every page has been carefully researched to make sure it’s not just well-intentioned; it’s science. 

A pre-order is an exponential way to show your support, not just for me but for the value of analog self-expression. While @simonandschuster is officially publishing “The Big Unlock” on March 31, 2026, your pre-order today telegraphs to the publishing world (and the zeitgeist beyond) that this modality - the simple and radical act of putting pen to paper - has tremendous worth, even amidst so much digital noise. 

I can report from personal experience that writing a book is not easy, but it’s a mostly private affair. Promoting a book, however, is an entirely different beast. And lemme tell you, it is a deeply vulnerable experience. Thank you very much for all your support, to this point and on the road ahead. 

Humbly, 
Laura

*A special thank you to my ongoing co-conspirator, @aolanow, for her generous guidance and design notes. You are a rock star.

I’m bringing The Big Unlock to @theclass NYC on Sunday, May 31st, for a 90-minute session that combines mindful writing with movement, two practices that help us come back to ourselves.

I’ll guide a series of journaling prompts inspired by the book, followed by a class led by @mallorymeeks.

Mallory has a remarkable ability to guide people out of the noise of everyday cognition and back into the body — pairing movement, music, and emotion in a way that feels both grounding and expansive.

I’ve long believed that writing and embodiment belong in conversation with each other. One helps us hear ourselves more clearly; the other helps us process what words alone sometimes can’t reach.

@AllSwellCreative notebooks will be provided, along with treats from @maylindstromskin and @ancientandbrave to take with you. You’ll leave refreshed, inspired, connected. A perfect way to reboot on a Sunday.

If you’re in NYC, I’d love to see you there. Grab your spot at the link in bio.

I’m bringing The Big Unlock to @theclass NYC on Sunday, May 31st, for a 90-minute session that combines mindful writing with movement, two practices that help us come back to ourselves.

I’ll guide a series of journaling prompts inspired by the book, followed by a class led by @mallorymeeks.

Mallory has a remarkable ability to guide people out of the noise of everyday cognition and back into the body — pairing movement, music, and emotion in a way that feels both grounding and expansive.

I’ve long believed that writing and embodiment belong in conversation with each other. One helps us hear ourselves more clearly; the other helps us process what words alone sometimes can’t reach.

@AllSwellCreative notebooks will be provided, along with treats from @maylindstromskin and @ancientandbrave to take with you. You’ll leave refreshed, inspired, connected. A perfect way to reboot on a Sunday.

If you’re in NYC, I’d love to see you there. Grab your spot at the link in bio.

The longevity industry wants you to spend a fortune on supplements, cold plunges, and olive oil that costs more than my first paycheck.

@lauralrubin has a different suggestion: four minutes, a pen, and something to write on.

The science behind journaling is more rigorous than most of what the wellness world is selling right now, and the price of entry is a napkin.

Laura is the founder of @allswellcreative and author of The Big Unlock.
Full episode on FOMO Sapiens — link in bio.

#Journaling #FOMOSapiens #Wellness #PersonalGrowth #LauraLRubin #PatrickMcGinnis

I started @AllSwellCreative over a decade ago because I was convinced journaling had a PR problem. Turned out I was right and that there was a lot of work to do.

Since then: workshops for brands, corporations, creative teams, and communities. Press coverage that surprised even me (hello @nytimes). Speaking in front of 700+ people at The Nantucket Project (@tnp.us).

The launch of EndsWell Collective, a nonprofit that pairs trained facilitators with underserved communities. And a book, The Big Unlock, published by Simon & Schuster.

The goal across all of it is simple. More pens moving. More people connecting more deeply with their own thoughts. More clarity, creativity, and self-trust in the world.

If you’d like to explore bringing this work to your organization or community, my DMs are always open.

Looking back at a night of creativity, connection, and community to celebrate the launch of The Big Unlock: Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling by our founder @LauraLRubin, alongside a thoughtful conversation with @Ccaliforniastyle’s @Kelly.Atterton.

Guests sipped on @AncientAndBrave creatinis throughout the evening while they learned how micro-journaling is redefining what a creative ritual can look like.

A big thank you to @SantaMonicaProper and @ProperMembership for hosting and @CeliaWChen for aligning the stars.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

The phone-down, notebook-open movement isn’t new.

We just keep having to rediscover our analog instincts — the ones that know, without being told, that making things with your hands feels different than consuming things with your eyes.

Writing by hand does something different to the brain. It connects signals in a way that lets information land and be retained. Instead of evaporating (or failing to show up) when we’re scrolling, ideas have a better chance of surviving on a page. That’s not nostalgia. That’s neuroscience.

Our founder @LauraLRubin wrote the book on this — literally. The Big Unlock makes the case for reclaiming your attention in a world that’s designed to take it.

Because a writing practice isn’t just about the page, it’s about what you get back when you stop giving yourself away.

We’ve spent over a decade at the forefront of expanding how people think about journaling. The zeigeist seems to be catching up.

Mindful writing isn’t a niche habit for a certain kind of person. It’s a practice for anyone paying attention to their inner life — which, apparently, includes a lot of famous folks, but also creatives, athletes, executives, and high-performers across every industry, lifestyle, and tax bracket.

AllSwell has built workshops, community, and a body of work around one core principle: that writing by hand benefits how you think, feel, and create. Our founder @LauraLRubin just wrote the definitive book on it. The Big Unlock is out now (available at the link in bio).

When was the last time you put pen to paper?

I am back home and finally catching up on life, as well as getting a proper look (no pun intended) at the photos from The Big Unlock book launch event at @propermembership in Santa Monica. It felt like a reunion of sorts, and in classic L.A. wellness-but-make-it-elevated style, we sipped @ancientandbrave creatine-spiked “creatinis” out of coupes against a Kelly Werstler-designed backdrop while enjoying some micro-journaling.

I was in conversation with @Kelly.Atterton of @Ccaliforniastyle Magazine, and let me tell you, this woman did her homework. Gold star for Ms. Atterton. She asked thoughtful, original questions and kicked things off with a quick-fire series of Q’s about my personal journaling habit, which I’m sharing here along with my answers…

Q: Paper journal or Notes app?
A: Longhand.

Q: Pen or pencil?
A: Ink!

Q: One journal at a time or several going at once?
A: Several.

Q: Morning pages or end-of-day reflection?
A: Both.

Q: Lined, blank, or dotted?
A: Anything but graph paper.

Q: Re-read what you wrote or never look back?
A: Rarely look back.

Q: The precious journal or the workhorse?
A: Workhorse.

Q: Write to remember or write to forget?
A: Write to live.

Q: Truth or a beautiful sentence?
A: Truth is beautiful.

Huge thanks to all of you who came out to celebrate with me. There was a lot of love in that room! I am immensely grateful to @celiawchen for masterminding such a beautiful event, to The Proper Club for generously hosting the evening, and to @ancientandbrave for their support – not just of this particular night, but for helping me maintain my cognitive fitness and physical stamina throughout a hectic but wonderful multi-city book tour. We did it!

I’ll be back at the end of the month with some more East Coast book-related fun. Stay tuned and keep writing, my friends…

#pentopaper #longhand #ad

Mother’s Day isn’t easy for everyone.

For many, it surfaces grief, or loss, or a quiet vacancy that’s hard to name. Those feelings are real and worth acknowledging.

But there’s another way to hold this day. Mothering doesn’t require a title. You can mother a friend, a sibling, a stranger, yourself.

Wherever you are with it this Sunday, our Founder @LauraLRubin invites you to take it to the page. Let it be a prompt. Let it be a release. Let it be whatever you need it to be.

If you need help getting started, our DMs are always open. 🤍

I had such a good conversation with author and AllSwell Creative Founder Laura Rubin in celebration of the launch of her book “The Big Unlock: Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling” and how a journaling practice can positively impact the trajectory of you life.

Here are some of the highlights from our talk:

→ Why journaling is having a moment (and why it’s so necessary)

→ Accessing your own innate wisdom

→ Why dopamine is running your life and how to take back control

→ The power of awe, appreciation, and the Like list

→ Laura’s 4x4x4 Method to help you get started with journaling

→ How “The Big Unlock” came into the world

→ Why businesses are getting turned on to journaling

→ Laura’s new nonprofit - EndsWell

→ The reality behind Laura’s shift from PR agency CEO to AllSwell founder and author

This one clip gives is just a sample of the gems Laura dropped in our Substack Live.

Watch the full conversation →

https://lnkd.in/eHqc3dFb

LINK IN BIO AS WELL.