Writing by hand is an activity that many often neglect in everyday life. However, why it is worth picking up a pen from time to time.
Even in a digitized world where we type far more on buttons and displays than we write by hand, don’t underestimate the art of handwriting. There are a multitude of benefits that come with reaching for pen and paper. From cognitive development to better memory, handwriting offers numerous benefits that are often overlooked in our fast-paced digital world.
1. Writing by hand: good for brain development
Writing by hand activates areas of the brain that aren’t used when typing, according to Psychology Today. One of the reasons for this is that writing requires fine motor control over the fingers. Therefore, when we learn to write by hand, the brain develops a functional specialization, involving thought as well as sensation and motor control.
When we grab pen and paper more often, we train our brain to maintain these skills. The Wall Street Journal, for example, reports on research showing that handwriting is a good cognitive exercise for aging brains.
The brain development benefits are comparable to the effects that occur when we learn a new musical instrument, according to Psychology Today. However, writing by hand is much more accessible. After all, we don’t need an expensive instrument or music lessons, just pen and paper.
2. Writing by hand: Better for learning
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Ylanite)
Handwritten notes are more conducive to learning than notes on a laptop. This is the conclusion of an article by the Association for Psychological Science. In three studies, the researchers found that students who took notes on laptops performed worse on conceptual questions than students who took notes by hand.
This is mainly because it is faster to take notes on a laptop. However, this means that you want to take every sentence of a lecture verbatim. Writing by hand, on the other hand, means that the information first has to be processed and reformulated into your own words. According to the researchers, this promotes understanding of the content conveyed.
3. How handwriting helps you achieve your goals
Writing by hand brings us closer to our goals. For example, if we make handwritten lists of our plans for the future, we can better control our behavior in the present, according to psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson to Forbes.
That’s because writing helps us derive information from our experiences. This information helps us better control our thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present. In addition, writing by hand can trigger positive emotions when we become aware of the importance of our actions for the future, says Peterson.
4. Handwriting: Less screen time
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Pexels)
Last but not least, it is worth writing more by hand so that you are less on your cell phone or computer. Diary entries, to-do lists, visions of the future or personal letters are things that you can easily do with pen and paper and without a keyboard and autocorrect.
With personal messages in particular, you can express your appreciation of a person particularly well with a handwritten letter. Another plus point: In this way you can also slow down your life a bit if everyday life gets too stressful and too fast-moving for you. By consciously taking the time to quietly write a letter or journal entry by hand, you can focus your thoughts on the present moment. So handwriting can also help you practice mindfulness.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Writing a personal letter: Reasons and 16 creative ideas
- Learning calligraphy: tips and material for beginners
- Efficient planning: why you should keep a not-to-do list