Writing by Hand is Good for your Brain
7 hours ago
- Writing by hand recruits more brain activity, benefiting cognitive processing.
- Use a fountain pen or rollerball gel pen to reduce hand fatigue, as they require less force than pencils or cheap ballpoints.
- Avoid frictionless gadgets like stylus on glass; a small amount of friction (like paper) helps control and reduces tiredness.
- Choose pen/paper combinations that work well; cheap printer paper and legal pads often cause ink bleed, while quality paper (e.g., 25% cotton or higher) performs better.
- Write on one side of the paper to avoid bleed-through and maintain comfort; don't worry about conserving paper.
- Use cursive writing, which is less tiring than printing individual letters.
- Don't worry about perfect legibility or ink blots; minor smudges are normal and washable.
- Left-handed writers can use fountain pens without smearing if they choose quick-drying ink and paper.
- Start with ink cartridges for simplicity, and buy cheaper pens until you find your preferences.
- The methods apply to any writing task—grocery lists, notes, journals—not just novels.