Handwriting is a skill that is slowly becoming a lost art in the digital age. However, writing by hand offers several benefits that typing just can’t match.
Think about notes you jotted down during a lecture or meeting. Even if you don’t refer to them anymore, you often still remember what was written. Why is that?
When you write by hand, you engage multiple senses. Experiences that engage multiple senses, such as sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, at the same time stimulate different parts of the brain and create a more comprehensive and memorable experience.
In addition, handwriting can be considered as a more conscious activity and has been linked to system 2 thinking, as proposed by psychologist Daniel Kahneman in his dual-system theory of thinking. System 2 thinking is associated with deliberate, intentional and reflective thinking.
Writing by hand engages multiple senses and requires more effort, making it more likely that the messages written down will stick with you in the long run. So, next time you need to really remember something important, consider putting pen to paper.
