#Here’s Why You Remember Things Better When You Write Them Down – LifeSavvy

If you’re trying to stay organized, you don’t have to look much further than an app store. There are countless tools designed to help you remember the important things in life. But what if the best way is to simply write it down?

Research suggests this is the case—more on that in a moment. And while each person has her own preferred method for writing notes and to-do lists, your brain holds onto information better after you’ve written it down. That’s a pretty good incentive for going old-school with a journal or day planner.

But why does writing things by hand affect your brain that way?

Why Your Brain Loves Pen and Paper

When you type, you use your fine motor skills in a more limited way than when you write by hand. Using a pen and paper is a deeper sensory experience than touching a keyboard. Since you’re crafting each letter by hand, it requires more dexterity to write with a pen than it does to type.

Researchers at the Norwegian Center for Learning Environment and Behavioural Research in Education found that reading handwritten text activates different parts of the brain than reading typed text.

Your memory of handwritten words is tied to the movements required to make each letter. This might be what helps the memory of what we’ve written hang around in our brains a bit longer. Meanwhile, pressing buttons on a keyboard activates fewer areas of the brain, so we forget what we’ve typed faster.

This makes perfect sense when you think about how humans first evolved the ability to read and write. The process was highly connected to physical touch as, for thousands of years, handwriting involved carving symbols into rock or pressing them into clay. Our minds and bodies are primed for this kind of physical interaction with the world. But typing is a far cry from creating the shape of each individual letter by hand.

So, when you write by hand, you actually give your brain’s encoding process a boost. Encoding refers to the process of sending information to your brain’s hippocampus, where the decision is made to either store the information long-term or let it go. If you write something by hand, all that complex sensory information increases the chances the knowledge will be stored for later.

In short, writing by hand forces your brain to process information in a more detailed way, which helps you successfully load that information into your memory.

What Should You Write Down, and When?

To reap these benefits, all you need to do is write things down by hand more often. That doesn’t mean you have to write down everything, though—that would get exhausting.

Instead, strategize with these tips to help you remember what you really need.

Keep a To-Do List

We suggest you start by handwriting your to-do list for the day, week, or month. This simple strategy allows you to test out the benefits of handwriting notes.

You can back up your list on your phone’s calendar if you want. Soon, though, you might find you don’t even need those notifications anymore.

Another benefit of handwriting your to-do list is not being distracted by a constant barrage of phone notifications and reminders.

Jot Down Your Goals

If you’d like to consolidate all this writing and planning you’re doing in one place, a premium planner that gives you both the room and the guidance to capture and track your goals is a worthwhile investment.

Stick to Just the Essentials

Take Notes on Podcasts and Shows

Research suggests college students who take notes by hand remember the information better than those who don’t. That’s because, as we mentioned above, writing by hand is always slower than typing.

Students who handwrite notes can’t write nearly as fast as a lecturer speaks, so they have to distill the information and make wise choices about what to write. This gives them a better working knowledge of the subject—even if they never look at their notes again.

Meanwhile, those who type notes might simply transcribe the lecture, rather than processing the information in their own words.

If you’re trying to learn something new from a show or podcast, you can use this same tactic to boost your memory. Even just writing down a few essential words and ideas can seriously improve your understanding.

Write Down Important Stuff More Than Once

TOPS Spiral Steno Notebooks

You can always get a fancy leather journal to braindump at the end of the day, but a simple notepad or these inexpensive steno notebooks can do the trick just as easily.

Writing down important things right before you go to sleep might also help you retain that information better. Taking a moment to “brain dump” before bed can also be a really great way to help your brain shift gears and transition to a more restful state before bed.

Check Your Notes

Of course, you can download all the apps and programs you want to help you keep track of tasks, ideas, and information. (And you can even use tools like Evernote and OneNote to collect your written notes!)

However, handwriting a few of your notes is so fast and easy, you’ve nothing to lose by giving it a try. So, pick up a pocket-sized notebook or calendar and try it out! It might change your life way faster than any hot new app.