The Technology Effect
With technology being at our fingertips the art of handwriting is often traded for a text or an email. It is so easy to quickly send a message or write a note with all the devices available to us. Technology has advanced and made communication so accessible that many times we don’t even type and “face time” each other via video chat instead. This increased usage and dependence on technology could be hindering our brain development.
Why handwriting
However, science has shown that writing by hand improves our brain function by increasing neural activity. One study from Indiana University shows that handwriting stimulates creativity in ways not accessed by other methods. We can counteract and even stimulate our thinking and improve our level of intelligence by writing by hand. In addition to getting smarter, writing by hand can also help ease stress and trauma. Writing by hand also forces us to be in the moment. It is a great way to practice mindfulness as we coordinate our present thoughts with the act and motion of writing. Handwriting forces one to slow down and be in the moment. According to Dr. Claudia Aquirre, handwriting is a type of repetitive tasks that allows our mind a bit of rest and be in the moment.
What do I do
I won’t try and fake it. I love typing! I can get my thoughts out so much faster. Often times I don’t even look at the screen or the keyboard, I just close my eyes and type. However, writing in my journal daily gives me a pause in the evening to slow down. I write down things much more often during the day when I’m working at my desk. I write on envelopes, scraps of paper, notepads, sticky notes or whatever. I enjoy looking at my handwriting. I enjoy the process of writing. It truly is meditation for me. I further enhance and enjoy the process by having lots of different color pens and markers to write with. This does not mean I give my technology the boot. Those hand written lists or quick notes often times gets transferred to an electronic source later. But more times than not they start off as handwriting.
How can I get started?
If you do not have a journal practice or don’t typically write things down here are a few tips to get started:
Hand write your daily to do list
Download and use my Simple Journal Template
Write a thank-you note to a friend or family member
Any of these can help you start to improve your daily life and move toward more mindful living.
You can learn other useful tips like this one to increase your mindful living in my FREE 7-day course Chaos to Calm.
If you are embarking on a new season or new endeavors and would like support in your process, please schedule a 30 minute free consultation call with me. I’ve been down a few paths and I would love to help you navigate yours!