When's the last time that you wrote down an idea, a reminder, or scheduled your week with pen and paper instead of doing it digitally? Maybe for some of you, it was 5 minutes ago, but for some it could have been 5 months, maybe even 5 years ago. We live in a highly stimulated digital world in 2023 do we not? Literally there are so many forms of entertainment, distractions, and information all vying for your attention every single hour of the day. So writing things down in today's society might seem like an archaic, and useless notion. But I am here to explain why I believe this isn't true. I want to go through a few reasons why I love to personally use pen and paper over using my phone. I also want to express the positive effects I believe that it can have on your life as well.
Now I can't go any further without saying, that I acknowledge that digital media, technology, and software are definitely beneficial in today's world. I don't want you going away from this saying that I think all technology is bad. But I do want you to understand that over the last 6 to 8 months of my life I have started to live a more simple, and more unplugged life. By doing this, I have seen so many benefits. Let's discuss!
Reason Number 1 - Stop Using Your Phone
The first reason that I love using pen and paper to write anything down, is it gets me off of my phone. I don't know about you, but my phone can be such a problem in my life. Again, I understand that phones are important. But never in a thousand years did you imagine having so many things at your fingertips. Your phone is a shopping website in your pocket, its a map in your pocket, its your bank in your pocket, it's depression in your pocket, it's a vice that's in your pocket. I can go on and on and on about what a phone is to people.
Think about it, how many times have you went to do something on your phone "productive" and one hour later you are watching reels or Tik Toks of a dude building a pool out of mud and sticks in the woods?
Whenever you go on this device you open yourself up to get distracted by the 1000's of things that you could be distracted by. So why not write your reminders, your appointments, your ideas on something that is away from the device that you are spending 5 to 9 hours on each day? Some of you might be like well having those reminders on my phone really helps me. I am not saying you have to stop doing what works for you, but give it a shot to integrate some written form of notes in a notebook or a legal pad and see if it makes a difference in your life.
I also want to challenge you, I want you to take one day this next week, and observe some simple aspects of life. When you're driving to work, when you are at work, in a public setting, at church, at a sporting event, or even while you are in the carpool line, look at how many people are looking down at their phone. I want you to count.
Literally every stop light, a person looks down at their phone. Why? Because they are so stimulated and need to look at something at their phone, because their brain is so used to being stimulated by something (social media, YouTube, Tik Tok, etc.) Phones used to be utilized to just call people. Now they are consuming people. So why do I write down notes or reminders on paper, because it doesn't allow me to get distracted on my phone.
Reason Number 2 - Get it Out!
Another reason that I suggest writing things down is it helps me remember things more effectively. So in regards to writing tasks or a to-do list, I would much rather have a physical copy of what I need to do in front of me than in my phone. This allows me to get the tasks that I need to do out of my head and on paper. As my day goes on, I write down any new tasks I need to do on paper.
There's a website I am going to link, called psychology today, and they have an article on 4 reasons writing things down on paper still reigns supreme. In their article they have a study that was conducted by the university of Tokyo, and it shows 4 reasons why writing things down is still better for you. One of the benefits is it says that "writing by hand is associated with stronger neural encoding and memory retrieval". Which they are basically saying it is better to take handwritten notes vs digital ones because you can recall them easier if you write them down. Another interesting one is they said that "jotting things down on paper is faster." I am sure you can find numerous other studies on why writing things down helps you remember things better, but for me I really like having those physical reminders or to do lists in front of me.
Psychology Today article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202103/4-reasons-writing-things-down-paper-still-reigns-supreme
For example I have a legal pad. I write down at the beginning of the week what tasks I have to do. As the week goes on I will add more to this list as they come to my mind. Any items that I don't get to that week, just gets pushed to next week. This allows me to not forget things as easily.
Reason Number 3 - Tangible Results
Going off of the previous point, another reason I like writing things down instead of putting them in my phone, is you get a tangible physical element of checking off things that you complete or do. This brings me so much satisfaction. When you look at a list that has 5 of 7 items crossed off, it brings you a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and it allows you to see tangible and genuine progress that you are making. These feelings can really help motivate you and give you confidence. It's reinforcement that you are completing tasks, and you are progressing in life a little bit at a time.
I encourage you to do this for a week or two and let me know the effect that it has on you. It can also indirectly help you identify maybe some tasks that you have been putting off for too long. If you see the same thing on your list 3 weeks in a row, maybe that means that task isn't really that important, or maybe you should address it sooner rather than later. This is a good way to identify trends that you may see developing in your life.
Reason Number 4 - COOL PENS!
Another reason that I like writing things down instead of putting them in my phone is you get to use COOL PENS. Yeah, I know that sounds dumb, but it really is an awesome perk of writing things down. I mean just look at this pen.
Now I don't want to encourage you to make bad decisions and buy pens that are over 25 dollars or even some that are 45, 80, or even 90 dollars. BUT, collecting high class and fancy pens is so fun! Even if it's something my wallet doesn't like. It can give you opportunities to talk to someone about why you write so many things down as well and maybe we can get more and more people on this pen and paper team. #penandpaper
Reason Number 5 - Personal Touch
Going along with this point, it also helps you put a personal touch to your notes, reminders, or calendar. You can use different color pens or highlighters. You can have your own style with it. You can practice writing neat notes that look satisfying to the eye. You can have your own personal method of planning out your life or week visually, that works for you. I don't if you have ever looked at some ones desk or white board, or notes they have on their desk at work. But I have, not in a creepy way or anything... But really I have noticed how neat some ones organization is. And it's infectious, it makes me want to strive to be like that. I believe that's the kind of effect personalization can have when it comes to writing things down.
Reason Number 6 - Slowing down Life
Something else that I am finding or realizing when it comes to the benefits of writing things down vs. putting them in my phone is it slows down my life. It gets me out of the constant need to be rushing everywhere at 100 miles per hour.
Generally speaking I do things in life at a pretty quick pace, I like to be efficient, and I like to get things done in time. But with those sort of personality traits and a world that is so much about efficiency and rushing to the next best thing, I find that writing things down somehow just slows life down. I'm not sure if it's because when you write things down you are just sitting and thinking about what you need to write. Or maybe it's because when you are generally typing on your phone you are texting and you are texting someone so fast in a rush. So when you put notes in your phone you tend to do the same thing? But something about having that pen and paper, or calendar just seemingly doesn't make me want to rush.
Reason Number 7 - Handwritten Notes
The last thing that I believe really drives me to write things down is the ability to write handwritten notes to friends and loved ones. Handwritten notes just hit different. I don't know if you ever received one, or written one. But they take time to write. They take effort to write. And I believe that that is what makes them so satisfying. Sure sending a sweet text or email, might still have a positive effect. But when you receive a handwritten note, or write one to someone else, it just feels so different. Heck I even bought my own wax seal stamp kit, because it is just such a cool thing to do. You don't see that very often anymore and I am one that believes we should bring back more hand written notes sealed with a personal wax seal. It's the effort that goes into that, I believe that really brings that joy and satisfaction.
Again I know that technology has it's uses, I am not denying that, but I really believe that getting your ideas, thoughts, plans, and etc. down in a physical notebook , calendar, or notepad will really work wonders in your life. I understand that not everyone wants to do this or thinks that it will be beneficial, but I encourage you to at least give it a shot for about 2 weeks. Go out buy a legal pad, a notebook, or a physical calendar and try it. Write a handwritten note to a loved one. Buy a cool pen even, if you are feeling bold. But try this out, and report back to me in the comments what kind of effect you have seen in your life with this. Did it get you off your phone more? Did it allow you to slow down your life some? Did it bring satisfaction seeing that list checked off? Did you see a noticeable change in the quality of your life? Let me know down below! Also consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel and this Blog!
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