Writing is not a lost art. In fact, it’s becoming more artful.
Many find it surprising that even in the digital age, people are still writing by hand.
This is no surprise to our partner, Pilot Pen. They’ve discovered the many benefits of handwriting, and explain that the brain fires in a fundamentally different way when you are handwriting versus keyboarding.
• Enhanced Memory
The benefits of hand writing have been observed and measured in the classroom. Recent studies of learning and memory in college students concluded that in-class note takers who used a laptop retained significantly less information compared to those using pen and paper. The students who handwrote their notes had to process and reframe the information, actively engaging more areas of the brain. This process led to deeper comprehension and greater retention of the information versus the verbatim transcription the students employed when using a laptop.
• Enhanced Creativity
Handwriting can also have an important effect on our creative processes and abilities. Creative ideas need time to take shape. The multiple strokes required to form each letter, paired with the more complex brain engagement, appear to give the brain valuable extra time to process and create.
• Enhanced Sense of Well-being
The modern world is fast-paced and stressful, and we are always connected by our digital devices. This has resulted in a sense of digital overload. Many have begun to embrace the idea of ‘digital detox’ – refraining from using electronic devices and embracing physical interaction and analogue communication. Journaling and expressive writing, whereby a person writes down their thoughts, feelings, aspirations and details of their emotional state, have been linked to reduced stress, enhanced mood and even faster healing when done regularly.
There has also been a resurgence in hand lettering and calligraphy. The unhurried process of creating hand-drawn typography causes the brain to work in a complex manner, combining writing and illustration and tapping into both sides of our brain. The results for the writer include beautifully drawn letters, a sense of accomplishment and, often reduced perceived stress levels. Decreasing stress has been shown to increase serotonin, the body’s natural mood-enhancing chemical. With these benefits in mind, it seems clear why this form of writing is core to the digital detox trend.
Handwritten is best!
Personally, I love getting a hand written note in the mail. It’s the very first thing I open. I’ve found when leaving a digital note on a co-workers desk, a handwritten note on top it always gets more attention.
Let us know what you think, and you could WIN a collection of Pilot Pen products for yourself!