Can not concentrate? Take a pen!

Many have already forgotten the last time I used a pen and paper, and it is quite clear - to the productivity of the computer will not argue. But do not throw out a pen and notebook on the desktop, because the process of writing by hand helps to clarify thoughts, remember information better and faster to achieve your goals. And it is not only his own observations, but a scientifically proven fact.

You know those moments when ideas like spinning somewhere nearby, but catch them and build up in the right order does not work? You have ten times written and erased some phrase, and do not even know where to start.

At such moments, I always save a notepad and pen - after the first sentence, stupor passes and there are ideas that can be transferred to a computer.

We can assume that it's just a habit and muscle memory - after all we are accustomed from childhood to write by hand, even if now print speed you just sky-high, and handwriting resembles vague doodle.

But scientific studies show that writing by hand, really helps to better focus, and this is due to the peculiarities of the brain.

Concentration on the subject

Writing by hand stimulates the reticular formation - a group of neurons and nerve fibers connecting, relating to all the senses and the areas of the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and spinal cord.

Reticular activating system is a kind of filter for processes that occur in the brain, distributing them in order of importance, and when you write by hand, it can be a priority.

In his book "Write it and let it happen," Ph.D. Henriette Anne Klauser mentions this mechanism. Writing by hand involves the reticular activating system, which sends signals to the cerebral cortex: "Wake up! Warning! Do not miss the details! "When you write your goal, your brain will work on it to achieve the desired, and will send you signals about the need for its implementation.

Cognitive development

If you're using a pen and paper to record their ideas, you develop your cognitive function. Dr. Virginia Berniger studying the process of reading and writing, and their relation to education, found that if children use to write texts pen rather than a keyboard, they perform tasks faster and better write longer texts and complete sentences.

The same applies to adults. In one study, researchers found that in the study of new characters, such as Chinese characters, adults remember them much better if instead of typing characters, write them by hand.

Berniger noted the difference in the brain when you write something by hand or typing on the keyboard: in the first process you write and connect the letters, and the second just press the same key, on which were written the letter. That is, in the process of writing letters, your brain works more active than when pressing the buttons.

As a result, you are more focused on the subject of writing, you can organize your thoughts and come up with something new.

Of course, completely switch to manual writing as something not important, but to record their thoughts and ideas in a notebook can be useful. In addition, if you prefer to keep all your information in electronic form, can combine writing by hand with the computer, for example, using an electronic pen.