The Science Says So! I used to be obsessed with digital note-taking apps, including the Notes app, Google Docs, and Notion, among others. Why waste time writing by hand when I could type three times faster? Then I stumbled across research that completely changed my perspective: writing by hand activates different parts of your brain than typing does, leading to better memory retention, deeper emotional processing, and enhanced creativity. Your brain doesn't care about efficiency; it cares about the connection between your hand, the pen, and the paper. That tactile experience changes everything. I switched my journaling practice from digital to handwritten. Within two weeks, I noticed a significant difference in the quality of my reflections and how deeply I processed my emotions.
Here's what the science shows: when you write by hand, you engage areas of your brain responsible for thinking, language, and working memory in ways that typing doesn't activate. A 2024 study found that handwriting enhances neural connectivity and cognitive development because the physical act of forming letters creates more robust memory encoding. This is why students who take handwritten notes consistently outperform those who type, even though typed notes are longer and more detailed. For journaling specifically, this means that writing by hand helps you process emotions more thoroughly and gain insights you'd miss if you were typing. Plus, handwriting slows you down in the best way possible, forcing you to focus and choose your words more intentionally instead of just skimming the surface of your thoughts.
There's also something deeply satisfying about filling pages with your own handwriting. It feels permanent, personal, and tangible. You can flip back through months or years of entries and see your growth literally written out in your own hand. Your handwriting is uniquely yours; it carries your mood, your energy, your essence in ways typed text never can. If you're currently typing your journal entries, I challenge you to try handwriting for just one week. Notice how it feels different. Notice what surfaces when you slow down. I bet you'll never go back to typing. Pick up a copy of my new book, “From Ashes To Empire”, today. By Luca Wolf.
