In the age of digital dominance, writing things down with pen and paper might seem archaic to some people; especially those belonging to Gen Z. Yet, this practice holds a charm and offers benefits that transcend time and technology.

Regardless of your profession and interests, understanding the power of handwriting can be transformative. Not only for your productivity but also for your well-being.

Let’s explore 7 incredible benefits of writing things down and see for yourself why it’s best to start adopting this habit more often from now on.

1. Enhanced memory

Memory is the cognitive process that allows us to encode, store, and retrieve information. When we write by hand, we’re not just putting words on paper; we’re encoding information.

Typing that information is not the same thing. When you type something, you don’t engage as much with the information. For example, experts in typewriting can literally type everything they hear. But that doesn’t mean that their encoding process functions more effectively than someone who tries to grasp the same information with pen and paper.

In different studies of university students from Norway and Japan, it was found that handwriting leads to much more widespread brain connectivity and activity in comparison to typewriting. That leads to better memory formation, encoding of new information, and better learning ability.

2. Improved understanding

The encoding of information that happens when you write something down engages the brain, making the information more memorable. And that eventually leads to better understanding too.

In a 2014 study, researchers found that students who use laptops for taking notes don’t learn as well as those who do it by hand. That’s because handwriting forces you to be selective in your information processing, since you can’t write everything down. That leads to better comprehension and retention than taking notes on a laptop, which tempts you to type more but eventually leads to shallower understanding.

In another 2021 study, researchers conducted a two-phase experiment where they divided participants into three groups of learners: hand-writers, typers, and video watchers. In the first phase, the participants were taught the Arabic alphabet. After six learning sessions, the typers and video watchers could identify all the alphabet’s letters. However, the handwriters achieved the same after only two sessions.

The second phase of the experiment just reinforced those findings. The participants were tested on how well they could express their new knowledge by using Arabic letters. The handwriting group performed again significantly better than the other two.

3. Clarifying goals, thoughts, and priorities

Considering the points and research already mentioned, we can expand on the benefits of handwriting. Seeing our thoughts materialize on paper is powerful and forces us to take action.

When you write something down, you don’t rely on memory to remember something, complete a task, or achieve a goal. Regarding simple things like writing down daily tasks or our grocery list, digital devices can surely help. We always have them with us, while pen and paper are not always available. But handwriting can be more beneficial with more complex tasks, like clarifying our goals, thoughts, and big life priorities.

For example, if you attempt to write your goals on a Word or Google Doc, you will probably save it in one of the hundreds of folders on your computer. And you know that you won’t read it as often as having it in a distinct notebook on your desk, where you can access it easily and report your progress. The same goes for writing down our thoughts or journaling.

When it comes to goals, there is also another reason why you should write them down (on paper or digitally). People who write down their goals accomplish significantly more than those who don’t.

4. Better health and well-being

Writing benefits are also linked to health issues (both mental and physical). A 2005 study found that participants who were asked to write about traumatic, stressful, or emotional events of their lives improved not only their psychological but also their physical health. Obviously, there are several factors determining one’s health state. However, there is more literature to back up those findings.

​One of the first studies on the topic, which took place almost 40 years ago, found that writing about emotions and facts regarding a traumatic/stressful event showed short-term increases in physiological arousal and long-term decreases in health problems. In particular, although the participants who wrote about such events reported higher blood pressure and negative mood following the experiment, they also disclosed health improvement, fewer restricted days due to illness, and fewer healthcare visits 6 months after the experiment.

There is no surprise that writing has long been used as a tool for healing. Either psychological, such as for stress relief, or even physical, as the studies mentioned above show. “Brain dump”, or, in other words, the process of getting everything you’re thinking onto paper, is an effective way to relieve yourself from anxious thoughts, declutter your mind, and feel less overwhelmed.

5. Improved focus and productivity

This is more obvious than the previous points but more difficult to achieve in our digital world. As humans, we have limited capacity to focus on multiple things at any given time. That means the more distractions we have, the less focused and productive we become.

Unfortunately, nowadays, whenever we try to work on a digital device, many things distract us; from emails to social media notifications or that Google Calendar reminder about the task we need to complete by the end of the day. And then there are so many tabs open that make us nervous. To achieve undistracted work on a digital device, you should either have a tremendous amount of discipline or use tools that keep you on track and the distractions away.

Handwriting, in that case, albeit impractical in some cases, can offer a way out. Next time, think of specific tasks that don’t require being done on a laptop and try to complete them by hand; when there is only you, your pen, and the paper.

6. Escaping from screens

Continuing from the previous point, handwriting can also serve as a well-needed break from screens.

In our service-based economy, what most people usually do is this: they wake up; they immediately grab their phone and scroll on social media before they get out of bed; they work in front of a computer for 8 hours; they get back home and binge-watch TV before they death-scroll again before going to bed. You will be shocked if you measure how many hours you spend in front of a screen each day.

That’s why handwriting, when possible, can be an escape from the digital world and help us detox from our screens.

7. Evoking self-reflection

When we practice writing more and more often, it becomes a habit. One that can be used as a powerful tool for self-reflection in some cases, like journaling or the brain dump I mentioned before.

Having a specific notebook for journaling or self-reflection can serve as a way to articulate your emotions, fears, and deeper feelings. And since it’s a physical notebook, you can easily access it every day at a specific time and use it to document your journey.

Most importantly, if you stick with that habit long enough, you can create an unofficial memoir of your experiences. In that way, you can see how much you have changed from your past self and what you want to work on with greater decisiveness.

Conclusion

The act of writing, seemingly simple, holds profound power. In a world increasingly leaning towards digital experiences, handwriting offers advantages that lead to increased clarity, growth, self-reflection, and overall well-being.

Whether you’re seeking enhanced memory, emotional healing, or a clearer sense of purpose, the pen awaits.

So, take a moment and pick it up again.