We live in a world where almost everything has gone digital. Notes are typed into laptops, reminders are set on phones, and brainstorming often happens in apps filled with sticky-note templates. With so many high-tech options at our fingertips, it might seem outdated—maybe even inefficient—to reach for a pen and a blank page.
But here’s the thing: writing and drawing by hand is not about being “old school.” It’s about unlocking a way of thinking that no keyboard, app, or algorithm can replace. The humble pen (or Apple Pencil!) is still one of the most powerful tools for thinking, problem-solving, and communicating—no matter who you are or what you do.
Thinking, Not Just Writing
When you put pen to paper, you don’t just record thoughts—you create them.
Research in neuroscience has shown that writing by hand activates more regions of the brain than typing. You’re engaging the sensory, motor, and cognitive systems at once. This means your brain is working harder—not in a tiring way, but in a way that builds deeper understanding and longer-lasting memory.
Typing is efficient, yes. But efficiency can be deceptive. On a keyboard, most people default to transcribing without pausing to reflect. With a pen, you physically can’t keep up unless you summarise, edit, and restructure as you go. That small speed bump forces you to slow down just enough to process information more deeply.
In other words: your brain has to think harder. And that’s a good thing.
The Power of Visual Thinking
Thinking with a pen isn’t just about words on a page. It’s about sketching. And before you panic—no, you don’t need to be “good at drawing.”
When you draw a box around an idea, link two thoughts with an arrow, or map out a process with stick figures, you’re moving beyond linear thinking. You’re organising ideas spatially, which helps you see patterns, relationships, and gaps that are invisible in a wall of text.
For example, imagine you’re planning a project. You could write a bulleted list of tasks… or you could sketch a timeline, with milestones, dependencies, and stakeholders. One approach gives you a sequence of words; the other gives you a big-picture map you can actually work with.
That’s the real power of visual thinking. It’s not about making art—it’s about making sense.
Why This Works for Everyone
You might be thinking: “That’s great for designers or creatives, but I’m not a visual person.” Let’s challenge that.
- Students: Studies show that students who take notes by hand remember more than those who type. Doodling alongside those notes further strengthens recall.
- Professionals: In meetings, sketching concepts on a whiteboard can cut through jargon and align teams faster than paragraphs of text ever could.
- Leaders: When leaders visualise strategies—literally draw them out—it helps their teams see the bigger picture and rally behind it.
- Everyday life: From mapping out your weekend plans to explaining long division to your child, sketching makes the abstract concrete.
In short, this isn’t just a “creative skill.” It’s a human skill.
A Low-Tech Advantage in a High-Tech World
We often assume that better technology means better thinking. But high-tech tools can sometimes overwhelm us with complexity, distractions, and endless options.
That’s why pen and paper are so valuable. They’re distraction-free. They don’t run out of battery. They allow for messiness, experimentation, and iteration in a way digital tools rarely do.
How to Get Started
If you’re not used to thinking with a pen, here are some simple ways to start:
- Replace a list with a diagram. Next time you make a to-do list, try mapping it as a mind map instead.
- Use simple shapes. Circles, squares, arrows, and stick figures are enough to explain almost anything.
- Think in layers. Start messy—get ideas out fast. Then circle, highlight, or reorganise once you see what’s important.
- Sketch with others. In your next meeting, grab a whiteboard and start drawing. You’ll be amazed at how quickly people engage.
- Keep it private (at first). If you’re nervous, sketch only for yourself. No one needs to see it until you’re ready.
Remember: the goal isn’t to create something pretty. It’s to think better.
Try It Yourself
The next time you’re staring at a blank screen, don’t open a new document. Grab a pen and a page instead. Draw three boxes. Connect them with arrows. Write down a word or two inside each one. See where it takes you. You don’t have to show anyone. You don’t have to be “good at drawing.” You just have to start.
Because once you experience how much clearer your thinking becomes with a pen in your hand, you’ll wonder how you ever solved problems without one.