What’s better? Writing things down with pen and paper, or typing them on a keyboard?
Sometimes writing is done as a simple utilitarian task. For example, just a quick note to someone (or to ourselves). Maybe we just want to convey some information or remind someone of a task, e.g., pick up some milk on the way home. With this kind of writing you want to be practical and efficient. You do whatever is quick and easy.
But sometimes writing is for much larger purposes. Like creating, learning, thinking and planning. For example, an author creating a novel, a student taking notes in a class, a person creating a new business plan.
So the question arises… “Should I write this by hand or type this on a keyboard?”
In our technological age, many people recognize some advantages of typing. The main ones often citied are speed and consistency (later readability).
While those advantages may be true, it is not the whole story. Of course, context matters. And it would be foolish to think we could create a single rule and think it would apply at all times and in all circumstances. But there are important differences in how writing longhand impacts us internally.
What are they?
Put simply, some of the top benefits of writing by hand are: increased creativity, improved memory and learning, and sharper focus.
Let’s look at each of these a little closer.
Increased Creativity
Many well-known authors choose to write their early drafts by hand, with a pen or pencil before they ever take to a keyboard to get their material into a computer. Writing by hand is often slower than typing into a computer and this means the brain has more time to explore various channels of memory and thought. Writing by hand also increases the coordination between right and left hemispheres of the brain. Words and language are processed by the left-brain. While creativity is associated with the right-brain.
Improved Memory and Learning
Whether it’s class work or a business meeting, when you take notes, doing so by hand engages more of your brain. The motor cortex is more active when writing by hand. The brain is involved with far more muscle movement and physical feedback when writing by hand compared to typing. And that seems to result in stronger memories being laid down and better recall later on.
Another subtle benefit of handwriting your notes is that with handwriting, you are often more actively thinking about the context of what’s being presented and translating that content before you write down some words. By comparison, when typing, there’s more of a tendency to capture words more mechanically – by rote – and with less mental preprocessing. And this has an effect on the ability to later recall, let alone cognition about the subject material.
Sharper Focus
Today’s electronic devices (computers, tablets, etc.) come with a myriad of ways that you could be distracted. Of course, this can have a detrimental effect on your ability to focus. But this topic goes much deeper than the surface level distractions you may have to contend with.
While writing, the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in the brain is notably more active. This part of the brain is most often thought of as controlling transitions between wakefulness and sleep. But it is also associated with the brain’s ability to perk up and pay attention to a given detail. This has immediate implications on focus. This filtering capacity of the RAS gives massive attention, awareness, and open doors of thought toward whatever you are bringing to the forefront of your mind via writing. And this translates to a much deeper focus than when typing.