When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not typed a Word doc letter, not talked-to-texted a letter – when was the last time you put pen to paper and wrote?
OK, so if you still send actual, physical holiday cards, you’re winning on this one!
Today is National Handwriting Day, a “holiday” that began in 1977. You won’t be surprised to learn that this holiday was devised by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association as a way to remind people to use more pens, pencils, and writing papers. Today’s date was chosen because it’s the birthday of John Hancock, the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence and the one who gave us that famous and flamboyant signature.
None of that is the reason you’re reading about this “holiday” here. National Handwriting Day is a springboard into your brain – specifically, your brain on analog, not digital.
A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan published research in 2021 that showed that our brains retain what we write far better than when we input information into a digital device. Even when writing on a screen with a stylus, it takes longer, and retention is lower than when using ye olde pen/pencil and paper.
As an explanation for the findings, neuroscientist and Professor Kuniyoshi L. Sakai said, "Actually, paper is more advanced and useful compared to electronic documents because paper contains more one-of-a-kind information for stronger memory recall." Using functional MRI the team found that areas of the brain related to language, imaginative visualization, memory, and navigation all responded more significantly in the test subjects who had used analog (pen and paper) as their note-taking method.
Why does this matter to you? Especially when you’re engaged in a creative activity, you’ll engage more of your brain and engage it in a more holistic way if you’re writing or drawing the old-fashioned way. Complex ideas coalesce more easily, related ideas and data will be recalled, and your brain will “work the puzzle” better and faster if you’re writing the old-fashioned way.
Need a bit of help figuring out what to write? The world’s second-shortest podcast can help you with that – in under 90 seconds, each episode will answer a question or a need you might have:
Need help figuring out what to write? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Want a way to write more success into your life? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Can writing help you focus on achieving your goals? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
So go ahead – take out your favorite pen and a good piece of paper (pull a cheap piece from the printer if that’s all you have handy) and write something. Maybe play around with your signature and see if you can give John Hancock a run for his money!
Wags,
Sandy Weaver
Program Director, Center for Workplace Happiness
PS...know someone planning a conference, meeting, or retreat? Please share my contact info with them. Thanks!
