"But learning is not a spectator sport. The human brain does not learn as much by consumption as it does by creation. Knowing that, I want you to ask yourself how you can become more active in your learning. Take notes..." Jim Kwik, memory improvement, brain optimisation and accelerated learning expert, and author of Limitless

When was the last time you sat down with a pen and paper and wrote something more than a shopping list or a birthday card?

Perhaps you used to write letters, keep a diary or take handwritten notes during meetings. These days, you're probably more likely to reach for your phone, tablet or computer.

It's hardly surprising. Typing is quick, convenient and makes it easy to edit, store and share information. And with our increasingly digital lives, many of us have fewer reasons to pick up a pen.

But when we swap handwriting for typing, could we be missing out on some valuable exercise for our brains?

Scientists have been exploring this question, and their findings are fascinating.

Research suggests that writing by hand engages the brain differently from typing. It brings together movement, sensory information, language and thinking, and may offer particular advantages when we're learning and remembering new information.

And for those of us who want to stay mentally sharp as we age, that's worth exploring.

Here are five reasons why you might want to rediscover the benefits of putting pen to paper.

1. Handwriting engages more of your brain

Writing by hand might seem like a simple, almost automatic activity. But behind the scenes, your brain is doing an impressive amount of work.

Think about everything involved in writing a sentence. You need to decide what you want to say, find the right words, remember how to spell them and coordinate the movements of your hand to form each letter. Meanwhile, your eyes monitor what you're writing, providing feedback that helps guide your movements.

All of this requires different brain systems to work together, including those involved in movement, vision, sensory processing and language. And interestingly, research suggests that handwriting and typing don't engage these networks in quite the same way.

In a 2024 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology examined the brain activity of 36 university students while they wrote words by hand using a digital pen or typed them on a keyboard.

They discovered that handwriting produced more widespread patterns of brain connectivity than typing. Scientists call this communication between different brain regions functional connectivity. The researchers observed greater connectivity in patterns associated with processes involved in learning and memory.

Why might this happen?

When you type, pressing a key produces a letter on the screen. The physical movement is relatively similar regardless of which letter you're producing.

But when you write by hand, every letter requires a different sequence of movements. Your brain has to coordinate those movements with what your eyes see and the sensations coming from your fingers and hand.

That combination of movement and sensory feedback may help explain the differences in brain activity.

Of course, greater brain connectivity during an activity doesn't automatically mean better long-term brain health. The study involved young adults and didn't establish whether handwriting protects against cognitive decline.

Nevertheless, it reveals something remarkable about an activity many of us take for granted.

Try this: Instead of typing your daily to-do list, write it by hand. You could also keep a notebook beside your computer for jotting down ideas, reminders or questions.

It's a simple way to bring handwriting back into your everyday routine.

2. Handwriting may help you remember more

Have you ever attended a meeting, listened to a presentation or read an interesting article, only to realise later that you've forgotten much of what you learned?

How we record information may influence how well we remember it.

When typing notes, particularly if you're a fast typist, it's relatively easy to record someone's words almost exactly as they're spoken. Handwriting is usually slower. And while that might seem like a disadvantage, it can actually encourage us to be more selective about what we record.

Instead of attempting to capture every word, we're more likely to identify the important points, summarise them and put them into our own words. That process requires us to think about the information rather than simply copy it.

A well-known 2014 study by psychologists Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer compared students who took notes by hand with those who used laptops. They found that students taking handwritten notes performed better on questions requiring conceptual understanding.

The researchers suggested that laptop users were more likely to transcribe information word for word, whereas handwriting encouraged deeper processing.

Subsequent research has produced mixed findings about whether handwriting consistently outperforms typing. The important distinction appears to be not simply how we record information, but how actively we engage with it.

Try this: The next time you read a chapter of a book, watch an educational programme or listen to an interesting podcast, put it aside and write down three things you remember. Don't worry about reproducing the information perfectly. The effort of recalling and explaining it in your own words is valuable.

This technique, known as retrieval practice, is well supported by learning research. And it's something we can continue doing throughout life.

3. Handwriting encourages focus and concentration

How often do you sit down to complete a task, only to find your attention pulled in several different directions? Perhaps an email notification appears, a message arrives or you remember something else you need to check.

Our digital devices are incredibly useful, but they also provide plenty of opportunities for distraction. Writing by hand offers a different experience.

When you sit with a notebook and pen, there are no notifications flashing across the page, no browser tabs waiting to be opened and no temptation to switch between applications.

You have one task in front of you.

The physical process of forming letters also requires continuous coordination between your thoughts, vision and hand movements.

Try this: Set aside 10 minutes to write without any digital devices nearby. You might reflect on something you've learned, work through a problem or simply record your thoughts about the day.

If you find your mind wandering, return your attention to what you're writing. The aim isn't to produce something impressive. It's to give one activity your full attention.

4. Handwriting can help you organise your thoughts

Sometimes our thoughts feel perfectly clear until we try to explain them. We might have several ideas competing for attention, an important decision to make or a problem that seems difficult to resolve.

Putting those thoughts into words forces us to slow down and consider what we're actually trying to say. And writing requires us to select information, organise ideas and connect them in a meaningful way.

Researchers sometimes refer to this as writing to learn — using the process of writing to develop understanding rather than simply recording what we already know.

And handwriting can be particularly useful when we're trying to work through something complicated. With a pen and paper, we can draw arrows, create diagrams, circle important points and move freely between different ideas.

For example, imagine you're considering whether to reduce your working hours, take up a new activity or make a significant lifestyle change.

Rather than repeatedly turning the question over in your mind, you could write down your options, what matters most to you and the possible consequences of each choice.

Seeing everything on paper may help you recognise connections or priorities that weren't immediately obvious.

The benefits here come largely from organising and expressing our thoughts, something we can also do when typing. Handwriting simply offers a practical, flexible way to approach it.

Try this: The next time you're facing a decision, take a blank sheet of paper and write three headings:

• What's the situation?

• What are my options?

• What matters most to me?

Then write whatever comes to mind.

You might be surprised by how much clearer things become once your thoughts are out of your head and onto the page.

5. Handwriting can support emotional wellbeing

There's another reason to keep a notebook handy, and it has less to do with remembering information and more to do with making sense of our experiences.

Life in our 50s and 60s can bring significant changes. There may be shifts in our careers, decisions about retirement, growing responsibilities for ageing parents, changes in family relationships or concerns about our own health.

Even positive changes can require considerable emotional adjustment.

Writing about our experiences can provide an opportunity to explore what we're thinking and feeling.

Researchers have studied a practice known as expressive writing, which involves writing about emotionally significant experiences.

A 2023 meta-analysis examining 31 randomised studies found that expressive writing produced small but statistically significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

The benefits weren't dramatic, and writing isn't a replacement for professional help when that's needed. But the findings suggest that putting experiences into words can be a useful tool for emotional wellbeing.

It's also worth noting that most expressive-writing research doesn't establish that handwriting is better than typing. The benefits appear to come primarily from the process of reflection and emotional expression.

Nevertheless, a handwritten journal can provide an accessible way to make that reflection a regular habit.

And you don't have to focus on difficult experiences. You could write about something you enjoyed, an achievement you're proud of, a conversation that made you think or something you're looking forward to.

Try this: At the end of the day, write a few sentences answering these questions:

• What went well today?

• What challenged me?

• What's one thing I appreciate or want to remember?

Over time, those pages can also become a valuable record of your experiences, achievements and personal growth.

So, should we stop typing and start handwriting everything?

Absolutely not! Computers, tablets and smartphones make our lives easier in countless ways. And typing still requires us to use language, organise our thoughts and express ideas.

The research doesn't suggest that typing is bad for our brains. What it does suggest is that handwriting provides a different combination of sensory, motor and cognitive experiences.

And because we're increasingly relying on keyboards and touchscreens, we may be using those particular skills less frequently than we once did.

There's also an important distinction between keeping our brains actively engaged and preventing cognitive decline.

You may have heard of cognitive reserve — the brain's ability to cope with age-related changes or damage while continuing to function. Research suggests that lifelong learning, education and mentally stimulating activities are associated with greater cognitive reserve.

We can't yet say that handwriting itself builds cognitive reserve or prevents dementia. But it can provide another enjoyable opportunity to keep learning, thinking, remembering and using different cognitive skills.

And that's a worthwhile reason to make space for it in our lives.

The goal isn't to abandon technology. It's to make room for activities that give our brains opportunities to work in different ways.

Seven ways to bring more handwriting into your life

If it's been a while since you regularly picked up a pen, there's no need to start writing lengthy journal entries or essays.

Here are seven ideas to try:

1. Keep a notebook beside your bed. Write down your thoughts, ideas or plans for the following day.

2. Take handwritten notes when learning something new. Whether you're attending a talk, reading a book or taking a course, summarise the important points in your own words.

3. Write a letter or card. A handwritten message to a friend or family member can be particularly meaningful in an age of instant communication.

4. Record your memories. Write about a childhood experience, a memorable holiday or an important event in your life. These stories may also become something your family treasures.

5. Try creative writing. Write a short story, describe somewhere you've visited or invent an alternative ending to a favourite book.

6. Keep a reflection journal. Spend a few minutes exploring what you've learned, what you're grateful for or something you'd like to approach differently.

7. Plan your day on paper. Write down your priorities, appointments and the things you'd most like to accomplish.

8. Choose something that interests you.

If you enjoy learning, perhaps handwritten notes will appeal to you. If you love telling stories, recording family memories might be more rewarding. And if you have a lot on your mind, journalling could provide a useful opportunity to reflect.

There's no single right approach.

And if handwriting is uncomfortable because of arthritis, pain or reduced dexterity, don't force it. Adapt the activity to your abilities, use a comfortable pen or continue typing. The thinking involved in composing your own words still matters.

A small habit worth rediscovering

It's remarkable how quickly technology has changed the way we communicate.

Activities that once required pen and paper can now be completed in seconds with a few taps on a screen.

And while that's undoubtedly convenient, perhaps there's something valuable about occasionally choosing the slower option.

Writing by hand asks us to coordinate movements, retrieve information, organise thoughts and concentrate on what we're doing.

It can help us learn, reflect and express ourselves in ways that are both mentally engaging and personally rewarding.

And one of the encouraging things about our brains is that they retain the capacity to learn and adapt throughout life.

We don't have to accept that growing older means gradually giving up the activities that challenge us.

Quite the opposite. We can continue finding opportunities to use our abilities, develop new interests and keep our minds engaged.

And one of the simplest ways to keep your brain engaged is to rediscover something you've been doing for most of your life.

References and further reading

Van der Weel, F. R. R., & Van der Meer, A. L. H. (2024). Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: A high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom. Frontiers in Psychology. Read the study.

Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking. Psychological Science. Read the study.

McDermott, K. B. (2021). Practicing Retrieval Facilitates Learning. Annual Review of Psychology. Read the review.

Arnold, K. M., et al. (2017). Understanding the Cognitive Processes Involved in Writing to Learn. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. Read the study.

Guo, L. (2023). The Delayed, Durable Effect of Expressive Writing on Depression, Anxiety and Stress: A Meta-Analytic Review of Studies with Long-Term Follow-Ups. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. Read the review.

Marano G et al. The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle? (2025). Life (Basel). 2025;15(3):345. Read the open-access review.

Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning. Scientific American (2024). Read the article.