The great thing about the digital age is that we have countless devices to which we can turn whenever we need to make a note, record a diary entry or adjust our to-do lists.
The downside is that many of us have become completely disconnected from the process of physically writing.
Think about the number of times you’ve picked up a pen recently to scribble something down. The chances are – firstly – it hasn’t been very often and – secondly – whenever it did happen, your scribblings were pretty illegible.
The art of writing with pen and paper isn’t going anywhere, but it’s a life lesson we could all do with a refresher on occasionally.
Here’s five ways you can get back into handwriting after relying too heavily on your keyboard:
1. Try a quality pen
Writing with an old, chewed-up ballpoint pen you’ve found in the back of your drawer isn’t going to be a particularly nice feeling.
So much of the handwriting experience comes from the tools you use, and it all starts with the pen.
There are tonnes to choose from, but you needn’t spend a fortune. Find something with a good grip that feels nice in the hand, and that offers a smooth writing experience. That should ensure you want to write with it, rather than it feeling like a chore.
2. Be relaxed with your grip
It’s common for people to grasp pens and pencils tightly, but in doing so, their handwriting usually suffers.
Because this overly flexes your hands, your hand will tire quickly and you’ll end up rushing your writing as a result.
Instead, hold the pen lightly and rely on that decent grip to ensure it doesn’t slip from your hands.
3. Try a different paper rotation
At school, we were taught to write with the paper positioned vertically in front of us, but there’s no harm in experimenting with the rotation of the paper if the old way feels a bit uncomfortable.
If you find that rotating it to the side either slightly or at a ninety degree angle works – great! Go for it!
4. Try writing on both lined and non-lined paper
To really hone your handwriting skills, it’s a great idea to write on both lined and non-lined paper.
The latter is where you should start, as it’ll get you used to writing in a clean, straight, level line, but the latter is usually more visually appealing.
Switch between the two, and you’ll soon start to find that you can write beautifully on pretty much any style of paper.
5. Find your personal style and embrace it
Handwriting is a very personal thing. That’s what makes it so special, and while it may take time to find your own style, make sure you embrace it when you do.
Trying to imitate the styles of others will mean you spend far more time trying to perfect something that isn’t you. Instead, allow your own handwriting to flow out of you and be proud of it when it does.
Wrap up
We hope we’ve tempted you to pick up your pen and pad; it could be the best thing you’ll do this week.
Rediscover your love of handwriting, because it’s a love we all shared when we were kids!