Think about the last time you picked up a pen or a pencil and jotted down a note on a physical piece of paper.
In the world of portable computers, with laptops, tablets and smartphones, we’ve become accustomed to writing and reading information at our fingertips on a screen, instead of the way it used to be, with people solely taking notes by hand. Writer and author Joan Didion said in her essay “On Keeping a Notebook” that using a journal is the best way to find inspiration. Didion explained her process as writing tiny details that had meaning in her day, but without structure or a schedule, leading her to craft narrative nonfiction scenes.
The benefits of writing are backed by science. According to a Norwegian study by Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weel, students who took notes by hand were more likely to interact with information taught in a lecture because they are actively processing the information, unlike those with a laptop, who may find it faster to type their notes or use transcription. When you’re taking notes by hand, you need to prioritize what is important and decipher the information based on what concepts you already know, because you’re writing as much as you can without missing anything. Beyond education, writing encourages you to slow down and think. And for those in marketing or editorial planning, even a small notebook provides you with the landing pad you need whenever an idea strikes.
Journaling became a hobby for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are many modern ways to plan and organize your thoughts. However, keeping a notebook doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as having a pocket notebook by your desk or in your bag, so you don’t lose your train of thought. In the same 2024 study by Van der Weel and Van der Meer, their research showed writing by hand increased brain connectivity. In fact, a 2021 Japanese study found people who write by hand recall information 25 percent faster than if they typed the notes on a smartphone.
When you think about creative editorial planning meetings, you may be thinking about only using your laptop or computer — you’ll take notes or look back on the digital documents later. The same is true for virtual planning meetings; you’re already on your device, so it’s much easier to remember. But a notebook can also provide a backup to your ideas and scribbles. The minute your laptop crashes and there’s an important deadline approaching, your thoughts are secured in a second place — provided you don’t lose your notebook.
The digital age has even showed us how artificial intelligence can take notes in meetings. While it may seem like a time-saver, it doesn’t get everything right. That’s where the human act of writing something down becomes more efficient. If you like using digital apps with AI assistants, jotting down notes can help fill in gaps or fix errors the program might not catch.
Going back to the education example, diagrams and maps commonly taught in schools can help you see outcomes you might not have seen before in your physical notes. Maybe this is when you are struggling to fill content in a magazine and you don’t know where to start, or you’re brainstorming ideas for the next issue. Either way, your goal is to not lose the spark of creativity once it hits, and that’s where your journal comes in.
A Thinking Notebook
Rachelle in Theory, a YouTube creator specializing in productivity and “thinking on paper,” considers the physical and digital note-taking methods to work in tandem. She describes a “thinking notebook” as a place for your ideas to take shape, almost in a stream of consciousness. You can use it to solve complex problems or work it out through drawing. It’s meant to be a temporary place in the process, so you will most likely move it elsewhere. Rachelle advocates for digital apps, such as the Notes app on your phone, to be a place for long-term storage.
The Second Brain Concept
Building a Second Brain, a book written by Tiago Forte, explains a digital model that can take your productivity to the next level. In this method, Forte said we use creative practices that we know to leverage the power of digital technology. Forte explains that humans have information overload daily, after being exposed to the equivalent of 34 GB of data per day. This overload turns into exhaustion.
However, the “Second Brain” acts as another system to capture your insights and knowledge for the future when you need to recall the information. It’s the physical notebook — but in an electronic format.
5 Tips for Getting Started with Paper Notes
1. Choose a notebook or paper option that fits your needs. It doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive or new; it can be as simple as a section in your planner, a pocket notebook, a basic spiral journal or a paper pad on your desk. The key is having it readily accessible and what size feels the most comfortable.
2. Build it into your routine. Thepower of notetaking comes from making it a daily habit. Make lists, write down random thoughts and use brain dumps to help reduce mental clutter.
3. Use highlighters and different writing colors to make sense of scribbles. With a busy page full of notes, extracting important items can help you figure out what you should do with the information. Color coding is a good idea.
4. Don’t be afraid to switch methods if it’s not working out. While we may feel the urge to give up on paper notetaking, there are other ways to make it work. Shifting behaviors takes time, especially as we rely more on computers. Always be open to trying new processes.
5. Experiment with different notetaking methods. Research methods like Cornell notetaking, drawing maps, the boxing method, outline method and stream of consciousness writing to see what works for your productivity style.
See More:
www.buildingasecondbrain.com
www.evidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu/blog/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-your-brain
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/positively-media/202403/writing-by-hand-can-boost-brain-connectivity
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning
www.stanforddaily.com/2020/08/03/creativity-during-the-pandemic-why-you-should-keep-a-notebook
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjA3KwXqIeA
Brittany Caldwell is an Editorial Assistant at Innovative Publishing. She can be reached at brittanyc@innovativepublishing.com.
Comments are closed.