Because of the meteoric rise of digital tools, fewer and fewer people are experiencing the benefits of writing by hand. These benefits are varied, from memory to increased mindfulness and concentration. Here I give some tips surrounding how you can incorporate the practice into your life so you don’t lose the benefits that this skill provides.
The author of ‘The Bullet Journal Method’, Ryder Carroll, vouches for writing by hand, saying that the ‘complex tactile movement of writing by hand stimulates our mind more effectively than typing. It activates multiple regions of the brain simultaneously, thereby imprinting what we learn on a deeper level.’
Since starting to bullet journal for my task management, I have found that I am executing slightly more work on a daily basis. I have found that this method keeps things simple, and the fact that I am writing my tasks by hand at the start of every day keeps them at the forefront of my mind so that I can keep better focus on the work that is going to make an impact.
This is why I recommend managing personal tasks using a handwritten system. I have a small notebook that I use to keep a daily log, and this allows me to capture ideas that I have throughout the day, without the necessity of an app to do the same job. Of course you may not have the ability to manage work tasks on paper due to having to conform to the use of some software through your job, but I find that this method helps to strip back the frills of a personal task management system and help bring the focus around to execution.
One of the best ways to incorporate handwriting in your life is by keeping a handwritten journal. Writing by hand of course takes longer than typing, and you don’t have the capability to make corrections as easily, so you spend longer considering the quality and readability of your writing. This, as well as improving your writing skills, increases the quality of the reflection, which is the main reason for journaling in the first place.
Another reason I like to work with a pen and paper from time to time is because it gives me greater flexibility and focus when it comes to generating ideas. Digitally, your work is largely restricted to simply words and pictures in a linear structure, unless you use some specialist software. In comparison, there is no limit to what you can write, draw or structure on a piece of paper with a pen.
Additionally, writing by hand doesn’t come with any of the distractions that characterise a digital environment, such as emails, social media and notifications. I have found that my depth of work whilst brainstorming and journaling by hand has often far outweighed anything that has come to mind whilst working on a digital document when it comes to quality and impact. I believe this to be simply because you are normally more mindful when you are handwriting, devoting a larger proportion of your attention to thinking about what’s at hand, leading to better ideas and higher productivity.
I do recommend that you at least try out task management and journaling by hand, just to see if you experience the same benefits that I have done. I hope you learned something new, thank you for reading.