Handwriting: a Superpower for the Digital Age
I have some excellent news: from bullet journals to school exams, handwriting is making its comeback in daily life.
It had been brewing for some time, but now it’s official and spreading worldwide through research and articles announcing its revival almost every day in the media.
Yes, in an era dominated by typing on keyboards, writing by hand, especially in cursive, is making its big comeback!
Far from being an outdated skill, cursive writing is now recognized by neuroscientists, educators, and psychologists as a powerful tool for cognitive development, creativity, and emotional well-being. And another reason schools are bringing it back is to avoid AI cheating.
Let’s see why you shouldn’t miss out on this new trend and all it has to offer.
A Brain Booster Like No Other
Research has shown that writing by hand activates the brain in ways typing cannot. Handwriting engages the brain, especially regions linked to memory, language, and problem-solving. Adults who write by hand recall information up to 25% better and understand complex ideas 17% more effectively than those who type.
Compared to print, cursive writing offers unique advantages. Its fluid, connected strokes create a rhythmic pattern that helps the brain process words as whole units, reducing letter reversals and improving reading fluency-especially for those with learning differences like dyslexia.
Creativity Unleashed
Cursive is more than a practical skill — it’s a creative outlet. Typing can only produce a standardized, monotonous text. Neat and efficient, but devoid of human warmth and surprises. Cursive, on the other hand, allows for personal expression, making visible the richness and diversity of each person’s unique style.
We each have a unique handwriting, as unique as our fingerprints. How we trace our letters expresses who we are. We all recognize a loved one’s handwriting and treasure their handwritten letters. Remember the joy of reading a handwritten love letter? If so, you might be a bit old, but this is a feeling younger generations have a right to know. Handwriting slows things down, for the writer and for the reader, fostering deeper engagement with ideas and emotions.
If sending letters seems a thing of the past, journaling is becoming a trend on the Internet, with celebrities such as Emma Thompson and Emma Watson declaring their love for handwriting, which they use as a daily ritual to help them focus and reflect.
So, if you want to boost your creativity, handwriting can be a path towards self-expression and a subtle act of rebellion against the uniformity of digital text.
Emotional and Psychological Benefits
Studies show that handwriting — especially journaling — boosts present-moment awareness, reduces anxiety, and improves emotional regulation. By stimulating our senses, it enhances memories and ideas, making them more vivid and personal. In a world of endless notifications and instant responses, the slow, intentional act of putting pen to paper offers a rare opportunity for mindful presence and self-reflection.
Handwriting Is Also Coming Back to School
In classrooms, the return of cursive instruction is being driven by a growing appreciation for its cognitive, cultural, and practical benefits — with states like California now mandating cursive for elementary students. In fact, more and more states in the USA are making cursive handwriting instruction mandatory, just as more and more schools and universities worldwide are requiring handwritten assignments to ensure students are not using AI.
The figures speak for themselves: 76% of high-school and college instructors now require or plan to require handwritten work, and the sales of blue books more than doubled between 2022 and 2024.
Don’t Miss Out
The science is clear: cursive writing is better than typing. It improves brain connectivity, cognitive skills, memory, and creativity. Picking up a pen and embracing cursive could be one of the most transformative habits you adopt.
So next time you’re tempted to type out a note on your phone or computer, consider reaching for paper instead. Your brain—and your future self—will thank you.
What you could do:
- Journal for 5 minutes a day in cursive to boost memory and creativity.
- Write a letter by hand to a friend or loved one, or a card for a special occasion (Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc.). This is a unique gift they can keep.
- Use cursive for note-taking to deepen your understanding of new ideas.
If you need help to hone your skill, or just want to make sure you’re doing it right, this book can help:
Recent articles on the subject:
- “ As schools reconsider cursive, research homes in on handwriting’s brain benefits “ .
- “ Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity “ .
- “ Handwriting may boost brain connections more than typing does “ .
- “ The Power of Handwriting: Improved Reading, Thinking, Memory and Learning “ .
- “ Turns out handwriting is the ultimate act of AI rebellion “.
- “ ‘Brain-building exercise’: early handwriting skills can boost creativity and learning, expert says “.
- https://www.women.com/1714009/emma-watson-viral-daily-journaling-practice-simple-effective-mindfulness-habit/
