The Benefits Of Putting Pen To Paper

This post has been sponsored by Zebra Pen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay, I have to be honest. I tried my hardest to be a “keep it all in my phone” type of person, but there’s just something about putting pen to paper that can not be replaced. Over the years I’ve realized how valuable it is to handwrite important notes and goals.

One of my favorite pens to use for charting, writing scripts and other notes is the Sarasa® Grand Gel Retractable Pen. Pens tend to grow legs in the office so it helps to keep plenty of these premium pens nearby. In the clinic, when I’m preparing important patient history for my assistant to transcribe, I typically have my Sarasa® Grand Gel Retractable Pen handy in my white coat pocket. This pen’s stylish metal barrel makes it the perfect accessory for any professional.

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Here are some of the benefits of putting pen to paper that keep me writing in my career and side hustle:

 

Writing by hand can improve memory retention

When I started my graduate school PA program, I thought that I could get by with taking notes on my laptop. The amount of medical information given to you in any division assistant program is compared to drinking out of a firehose. By the end of the semester, I was well aware that I needed to change up my study habits. Out of all of the new study tactics I tested out, writing notes out by hand was the best way for me to commit all of the anatomy medical jargon and medications to memory. A research study in 2014 found that students who took notes by hand compared to those who took notes on laptops were able to better recall their lectures. Writing on paper helps students better analyze what information is important and what may be unnecessary.

Now that I have been practicing for over six years, writing every day is still my preference. It allows me to better remember the history I’ve discussed with my patient.

Writing by hand improves problem-solving abilities

Writing helps us better understand complex issues, see patterns and gives us a chance to reflect on solutions. Putting pen to paper fires up the brain in different ways. Very few things are more complex than trying to understand the disease process of a new patient. Writing down notes while taking history or creating a plan, is still my favorite way to chart

 

 

Writing on paper can spark productivity.

This benefit alone is important in all aspects of my life. As a busy working mom and managing my time in clinic I need to make sure that I stay on top of my productivity. Putting pen to paper allows me to slow down in a good way. I’ll admit that I am guilty of multitasking and feeling like I am always on the run, so handwriting can be particularly useful during goal setting and brainstorming. It allows me to slow down and think a little bit longer about what I’m doing so I am able to flush out ideas for blog posts, brand goals or content for you all to enjoy.

With all of this said, I want to strongly encourage everyone to take time off of your phone to write notes, jot events down in a planner, or utilize this in your work life. It’ll be life changing!