It’s the era where pen and paper have gone missing and are replaced with digital devices. It’s the era of technology where you download an application to jot down notes, remind you of appointments, keep your to-do list, and you’re ready to start your day. However, have you ever paid attention to how stressful it can be when your digital device constantly reminds you of multiple tasks? How much of what you upload on these applications do you mentally remember? Surprisingly, little to none.

The “art of writing things down” can help you in your daily life and improve your cognitive abilities; how? Writing things down:

1- Helps declutter your brain:

When the brain is filled with many distracting things, it is unlikely that a person can focus on the important stuff. Writing distills this mess into something comprehensible. This is why journaling is highly recommended, even if it’s not daily or weekly. Write it down whenever you feel conflicted or stressed, it will help you get deeper into your mind to understand what’s going on. After jotting down all those ideas, you leave room for different ideas to sink in and think about future goals, objectives, and plans. 

2- Helps you sleep better:

As soon as your subconscious mind knows that the idea or to-do list has been written down and won’t be forgotten, it lets go, and once it’s out of your head, your brain can stop going over it, and you’ll be able to sleep.

3- Keeps your memory working and allows you to remember things:

A study published in 2010 by Beesley and Apthorp proved that students who took notes during lessons achieved better results on their exams because they were more likely to remember the material they had studied. Writing things down doesn’t just help you remember, it also makes your mind more efficient by allowing you to focus on the important stuff.

4- Helps you prioritize goals:

Writing down your goals helps keep a clear mindset on your target and what you want to accomplish first; that will help you avoid distraction and procrastination, thus, staying focused and managing your time effectively. Focusing on one task at a time allows you to maintain momentum and speed to achieve your goal without setbacks or distractions. 

5- Helps you process your emotions:

Studies have shown that 60% of all human sickness comes from stress and anxiety. Writing down your feelings, whether negative or positive, helps you analyze these emotions and face them. 

6- Keeps you motivated:

When you have written down your goals, it creates a sense of urgency to move closer towards achieving them and motivates you to keep going and be mindful of what you already accomplished. 

7- Highlights your daily progress:

Writing the things you have completed or thought about and going back to them helps you assess your situation, how you got there, and what you can improve. Without your notes, you wouldn’t be able to track your progress and put it in context.

8- Activates a higher order of thinking:

When you write down your thoughts, you create space to learn, think, and plan other things. When your brain isn’t constantly occupied with small matters, it becomes easier to think of more important things. In this manner, a person will become capable of setting an efficient action plan. 

9- Creates a sense of gratitude:

Looking back on what you have accomplished gives you a broader perspective on everything you have been through and what matters. 

10- Keeps you actively engaged:

When comparing if taking notes by computer is better than handwriting, studies showed that even though typing is faster, writing is more efficient and effective. A person needs to be actively engaged in writing to classify what is essential and what is not. Therefore, even though one would be typing everything, they wouldn’t filter what is important and what isn’t. 

If you still depend on applications and laptops to write down information, you need to reconsider. This simple practice of writing things down on a paper can be a great benefit to you no matter what you’re trying to accomplish.

“When you write down your ideas, you automatically focus your full attention on them. Few if any of us can write one thought and think another at the same time. Thus a pencil and paper make excellent concentration tools.” Michael Leboeuf

“Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.” Francis Bacon, Sr.