The power of handwritten journals

Digital journals and blogs are popular today. Anyone can create a blog to share their feelings. And there are gorgeous digital apps for your mobile phones and tablets.

But there’s still something about handwritten journals that makes them matter more.

Handwritten journals have been around for centuries, and they’ve been used for all sorts of purposes — from recording personal thoughts to chronicling a journey to tracking a business plan.

There are even cases of people using handwritten journals to help them recover from personal issues.

But what is it about handwritten journals that makes them so special?

That's what we'll explore in this post. As you go through this post, you'll pick up a notebook and get to writing.

Handwritten journals are tangible

There’s the physicality of a real journal. A handwritten journal is a tangible object that you can hold in your hands, and that alone makes them feel more real than a digital journal.

There’s also the fact that you can write in them anywhere — on the bus, in a café, at the park. You don’t need to have an Internet connection or even power to record your thoughts in a handwritten journal.

They’re perfect for when you want to get away from social media and technology to clear your head.

And when you’re ready to share your journal with others, you can simply pass it on.

Writing by hand is therapeutic

There’s something about the feeling of writing on paper that can’t be replicated on a screen. The physical act of writing is therapeutic and can help you process your thoughts better.

If you want to get even more creative, you can also switch to drawing and using other media. This is a great way to express your thoughts and feelings in a more visual way.

Plus, it can be really fun and therapeutic to doodle in your journal. So go ahead and experiment with different media.

Handwritten journals feel personal

A handwritten journal is a reflection of you. It’s filled with your thoughts, experiences, and emotions. And because of that, it can be a lot more personal than a digital journal.

When you write by hand, you also tend to write more about your feelings and thoughts — things you may not feel comfortable sharing online.

A handwritten journal is a safe space for you to be completely honest with yourself, and that can be really liberating.

They can last forever (or at least a really long time)

If you take care of your handwritten journal, it can last forever. You can even pass it down to future generations.

Think about it — a handwritten journal is a time capsule that captures your thoughts and feelings at a specific point in your life. It’s a snapshot of who you were at that moment, and that can be really valuable to future generations.

On the other hand, digital journals can disappear if you lose your device or if the app you’re using goes out of business. So there’s a risk that your thoughts and experiences could be lost forever. Not to mention, if you don't share your journal details, including your username and password, you'd likely forget about it and reduce the likeliness of your journal being found.

With a handwritten journal, you don’t have to worry about that — as long as you take care of it, it will last.

Engage more of your senses

When you write by hand, you engage more of your senses. You can smell the paper and ink, feel the texture of the paper, and hear the sound of the pen as you write.

All of these sensory experiences can make journaling more enjoyable and help you focus on your thoughts.

Plus, it’s just really satisfying to see your thoughts taking shape on the page.

Here's a pro tip. Try journaling with your non-dominant hand. Authors like Lucia Capacchione recommend writing with your non-dominant hand to express more of yourself.

We tend to use one hand to do most of our work and activate one side of the brain more. By using the other hand, we give a 'voice' to that part of the brain that doesn't get as much activity.

If you didn't know, the left and right sides of the body are governed by the opposite halves of the brain. That is, your left brain controls the right side of your body and vice versa.

So if you're left-handed, journaling with your right hand can help you access the more creative and intuitive right side of your brain.

And if you're right-handed, using your left hand can help you connect with your more logical and analytical left brain.

Give this a try the next time you journal and see how it feels. There's no right or wrong way to do it, just follow your intuition.

Experiment with different media

You're not restricted to writing in a journal — you can also experiment with different media. If you want to get more creative, try drawing, painting, or even scrapbooking.

The sky's the limit when it comes to expressing yourself in a journal. So go ahead and experiment with different media to see what works.

Conclusion

There’s something special about handwritten journals

There’s no doubt that handwritten journals are special. They’re tangible, personal, and can last forever. And because of all of these things, they can be really valuable — both to you and to future generations.

So the next time you’re feeling journal-inspiration, ditch the computer and pick up a pen and paper instead. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.