Writing by Hand Is a Gift to Your Brain

Reclaiming a lost habit to sharpen thinking and protect memory

For many of us, handwriting has quietly slipped out of daily life. We tap, type, and swipe. Grocery lists are saved in apps, thank-you notes have become texts, and even our private reflections, once scribbled in journals, are drafted in sleek digital notebooks. But something important is lost in this shift — not just nostalgia, but something deeply biological. Recent research is bringing handwriting back into the spotlight, not as a quaint ritual, but as a serious tool for protecting brain health and enriching emotional life.

A Brain Booster Hiding in Plain Sight

A 2024 study by Van der Weel and Van der Meer has given new weight to what many have intuitively known: writing by hand activates the brain in ways that typing does not. Unlike keyboarding, which is fast and linear, handwriting involves complex movements that activate multiple brain regions — including those tied to learning, memory, and emotion. That increased brain connectivity means deeper cognitive engagement. When you write by hand, you're not just capturing thoughts — you’re shaping them, reinforcing them, and giving your brain a richer workout in the process.

The Power of Slowness

Yes, handwriting is slower. But in that slowness is a gift: reflection. Unlike typing, which encourages rapid-fire thinking and editing on the fly, handwriting requires commitment. There’s no delete key, no autocorrect. You pause, rephrase, feel your way into what you're trying to say. That pause activates a different kind of attention — one that supports not only learning and memory, but emotional regulation as well.

More Than Words: The Benefits of Visual Journaling

For an extra layer of cognitive enrichment, try pairing words with images. Doodling, sketching, or visually journaling along with handwritten notes taps into the same benefits seen in art therapy:

• Improved mood and self-expression

• Enhanced meaning-making and identity

• Reduced loneliness and depressive symptoms

• Opportunities for connection and sharing

As Galassi et al. (2022) note, these creative practices aren’t just expressive — they support brain structure and function, too.

Cognitive Reserve: Why It Matters as We Age

Aging naturally affects memory and learning, but lifestyle choices can help build what’s known as cognitive reserve — the brain’s resilience in the face of aging or disease. Studies have shown that cognitive activities, especially those that challenge the brain in new or complex ways, can strengthen this reserve. Handwriting may seem simple, but the act involves visual, motor, and linguistic systems all working together. Wilson et al. (2013) suggest this kind of full-brain engagement can actually shape brain structure and function — especially when done regularly.

Making It Practical

You don’t need to abandon your devices or become a prolific diarist overnight. Here are small ways to bring handwriting back into your life:

• Start your day with three lines in a notebook — a thought, a quote, a plan.

• Make your shopping list by hand.

• Write a card or letter each week.

• Try combining handwriting with art — a short caption, a watercolor sketch, even a doodle journal.

• Keep a paper calendar or planner where you jot daily highlights.

It's not about being efficient. It’s about building a habit that supports your mind.

In Praise of Imperfection

Handwriting is personal. It’s messy, slow, even illegible at times. But that’s part of its value. It asks for attention and offers connection — to our thoughts, our feelings, and the deeper workings of the brain. As technology accelerates everything, picking up a pen may be one of the gentlest, most powerful acts of resistance. And as each year passes, many of us are less interested in speed and more interested in presence. Writing by hand offers just that — a way back into ourselves, one stroke at a time.

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Evidence List

Van der Weel, F.R., & Van der Meer, A.L.H. (2024).This recent study used EEG technology to examine how the brain responds to handwriting compared to typing. The researchers found that writing by hand activates widespread regions across both hemispheres of the brain — particularly those linked to memory, motor control, and emotion. The complex movements involved in handwriting led to stronger brain connectivity, suggesting that it can enhance cognitive processing and support long-term brain health.→ Source: NeuroImage (2024).

Galassi, F., Merizzi, A., D'Amen, B., & Santini, S. (2022).This scoping review looked at how creative practices — especially art therapy — promote healthy aging. The authors found that activities like drawing, painting, and visual journaling improve cognitive performance, coordination, self-identity, and mood. These practices also reduce loneliness and support mental health, offering strong parallels to the benefits of handwritten journaling, particularly when visual elements are added.→ Source: Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 906191.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.906191

Ullrich, P.M., & Lutgendorf, S.K. (2002).This study explored how expressive writing — especially when people put effort into finding meaning in their experiences — can improve emotional well-being. The more deeply people engaged with their thoughts while writing, the greater the psychological benefit. This supports the idea that handwriting isn’t just mechanical — it offers a pathway to reflection, insight, and healing.→ Published in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Salthouse, T.A. (2012).Salthouse’s work on aging and cognition shows that both memory retrieval and new learning tend to decline with age — often earlier than people realize. However, engaging in mentally stimulating activities, like handwriting, can slow this decline. His research emphasizes the importance of regular cognitive challenges to preserve function across the lifespan.→ Source: Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 369–377.

Amanollahi, M., Amanollahi, S., Anjomshoa, A., & Dolatshahi, M. (2021).This study reviewed lifestyle factors that build “cognitive reserve,” the brain’s ability to resist damage from aging or disease. The authors found that cognitively, socially, and physically active lifestyles — including activities like journaling — were linked to stronger cognitive resilience. This makes daily handwriting a simple but powerful practice to protect long-term brain health.→ Source: European Journal of Neuroscience, 53(9), 3109–3124.https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15183

Wilson, R.S., Boyle, P.A., Yu, L., Barnes, L.L., Schneider, J.A., & Bennett, D.A. (2013).In this long-term observational study, researchers followed older adults over time and found that those who regularly engaged in reading and writing had slower cognitive decline. Even when physical signs of dementia were present in the brain, those with mentally active lifestyles showed better day-to-day functioning. Writing by hand, as a habitual cognitive practice, may help maintain brain structure and delay symptoms of cognitive disorders.→ Published in Neurology, 81(4), 302–309.

Longcamp, M., Richards, T.L., Velay, J.L., & Berninger, V.W. (2016).This neuroimaging study examined the brain pathways activated during handwriting compared to typing. It showed that handwriting activates both the cortical and subcortical regions involved in language, memory, and motor control. The researchers emphasized that handwriting plays a critical role in how we process and retain information, supporting its use across all ages.→ Source: Pratiques, Issues 171–172.https://doi.org/10.4000/pratiques.3175