WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE BY HAND

I can’t believe that after years of anxiety and feeling like my brain was tangled like abandoned Christmas lights, I finally learned the undo button for it all is putting pen to paper! And the best part? There is scientific research to back up this claim. So yes, you should ditch that computer (as soon as you finish reading this, of course).

My Story

For years, I have mocked my sister for not being digital enough. “Just download a Notes App or a productivity app.” I’d tell her.

My breakthrough happened on a sunny, hot afternoon. There was a blackout in the land, and the sounds of generators were so loud I wanted to pull my hair — us living in Nigeria can relate to this struggle.

With my digital devices low, I left my phone to charge with my power bank as I scribbled away my thoughts on the movie Forgotten. And voila! The difference was clear. I expressed my thoughts better and felt calmer than when I went ‘tap, tap’ on my keyboard.

The Science

After experiencing this ‘Aha’ moment, I thought there has to be a science to this, and there is! Loads of research talk about how immensely important it is for kids’ development when they use their hands. For us adults, writing by hand means slowing our brains down to process information. Every stroke of the pen on…