Write By Hand. Think Better.
Your keyboard is slowing your brain down.
I know that sounds extreme. But the science backs it up.
Writing by hand activates parts of your brain that typing simply cannot reach.
When you pick up a pen and write, your brain lights up. The reticular activating system, or RAS, gets triggered.
This is the filter that tells your brain what to focus on. Handwriting forces your RAS to pay attention to every single word.
Typing is fast. Too fast. Your fingers move but your brain goes on autopilot. You stop processing. You stop thinking deeply.
Handwriting is slow. That slowness is the magic.
When I journal every morning, I write by hand. Not on a laptop. Not on a phone. A simple notebook and a pen.
This single habit has sharpened my thinking more than any app ever could.
Here is what happens at the molecular level.
Handwriting engages the motor cortex, visual cortex, and the areas responsible for memory formation simultaneously.
Studies from the University of Tokyo found that writing on paper led to 25% better memory recall compared to typing on a device.
Think about that. A 25% boost. Just from picking up a pen.
Write your goals by hand. Write your daily intentions by hand. Write your ideas by hand.
The physical act of forming letters creates neural pathways that cement information into long term memory.
Children who learn to write by hand develop better reading skills. Adults who take handwritten notes outperform those who type in every comprehension test.
The evidence is overwhelming.
I also find handwriting deeply calming. It slows my breathing. It centers my thoughts. It is like a form of meditation without trying to meditate.
My advice is simple. Buy a good notebook. Dedicate ten minutes every morning to writing by hand. Your goals. Your gratitude list. Your thoughts. Watch how your clarity improves within a week.
Your brain was designed to work with your hands. Let it.
Follow me on Twitter @rbawri, Instagram @riteshbawriofficial, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain.
