There are few things more meaningful than opening a mailbox to find a handwritten letter or greeting card from a friend or family member. In a world that has become increasingly digital, it’s often nice to remember the human on the other end of that keyboard. Here is a closer look at a few of the benefits of writing with a pen and paper.

Improved Memory

Writing notes by hand has been shown to improve content retention when taking notes. This increase in our memory results from our inability to write as quickly as the presenter is talking. While sounding like a shortcoming at first, the benefit comes from being forced to paraphrase the content, which means we are listening and processing the information. Processing like this increases the likelihood of remembering what was said.

Increased Creativity

Many writers subscribe to the belief that writing with pen and paper helps to get the creative juices flowing. When left alone with our thoughts in a silent room, our mind starts to wander. What seems like idle daydreaming may actually be the beginning of the next bestseller or blockbuster movie. Many writers will stress the importance of keeping a journal to stimulate the creative process. By having your pen and paper ready, you can catch the idea before your brain moves onto another topic.

Feels More Personal

Firing off a quick text message or email is a great way to handle the expected niceties of our daily interactions. But to really drive home your message, few things have the same impact as a handwritten note. Written inside a greeting card, this extra touch shows the person how much the relationship you share with them means to you.

Boost Brain Development

One of the unique benefits of writing with a pen and paper is the boost to mental development from writing by hand. Much research has gone into establishing the link between handwriting and brain development. There are even studies suggesting school children and college students who take notes by hand perform better and have more ideas than those using a computer. While notetaking on a computer is admittedly quicker and easier, it doesn’t lead to the same educational outcomes as writing by hand.