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The importance of handwriting is now better understood

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Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Join the Signo RT 0.38mm cult. Embrace the tiny font.

I really loved these (.38 specifically) back in college, but they’d start skipping within a matter of weeks. Maybe I was just applying too much pressure?

Haven't had issues. I barely touch the paper though.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#22
post #17

I've direct experience on the power of handwriting to memorise concepts. When at the UNI, I was studying CS (while working part-time) less than 10 ya, and classes where full of laptops. I was take notes during lectures using only pen and paper and similarly I was taking my notes about the main concepts from the courses books. Then I was re-writing them again in a more summarised way, and then underline this notes and…

I wonder if the key is not really handwriting but rather a deliberate summarization, because I always used a computer to do that. I did have a printout of my own summary, of course, so papers may have also helped as well. (I also tended to walk around and mumble a lot when I really need to tackle a hard problem in my head, but not when studying.)

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#23
post #17

I've direct experience on the power of handwriting to memorise concepts. When at the UNI, I was studying CS (while working part-time) less than 10 ya, and classes where full of laptops. I was take notes during lectures using only pen and paper and similarly I was taking my notes about the main concepts from the courses books. Then I was re-writing them again in a more summarised way, and then underline this notes and…

I wonder if the key is not really handwriting but rather a deliberate summarization, because I always used a computer to do that. I did have a printout of my own summary, of course, so papers may have also helped as well. (I also tended to walk around and mumble a lot when I really need to tackle a hard problem in my head, but not when studying.)

I wonder too.

I remember doing python the hard way years ago, which encouraged you to type in the example python programs and run them yourself. It made a definite difference to sort of deliberately slow down and absorb during the exercise.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#26
post #18
post #3

I have started to journal last month. I came to it through pens when I randomly decided to find a good pen when I got interested in it through some youtube videos(wow, YT actually working as intended, for once). To anyone interested, Pentel Energel 0.7mm is the best gel pen in the entire world, hands down. For oil-based ink, it would be Uniball Jetstream, i guess(i am gel guy). I always wanted to journal and thought…

Do you have any recommendations for getting over the friction of starting? Like, suggestions of what to write about if you're unsure what's worth putting to paper. I'm sure I'd have plenty to write once I got started, but an empty notebook is intimidating!

I've written in notebooks for many years (mainly write-only, like perl). I think the key thing to remember is that no one is going to read or judge your notes, so literally write anything.

Shopping lists, random thoughts, UML-like diagrams of code, sketches of possible art pieces, knots, etc. Just anything.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#27
post #18
post #3

I have started to journal last month. I came to it through pens when I randomly decided to find a good pen when I got interested in it through some youtube videos(wow, YT actually working as intended, for once). To anyone interested, Pentel Energel 0.7mm is the best gel pen in the entire world, hands down. For oil-based ink, it would be Uniball Jetstream, i guess(i am gel guy). I always wanted to journal and thought…

Do you have any recommendations for getting over the friction of starting? Like, suggestions of what to write about if you're unsure what's worth putting to paper. I'm sure I'd have plenty to write once I got started, but an empty notebook is intimidating!

Firstly, do not take the notebook as something sacred. Especially if it is hardcover, you might see it as more valuable than a simple notebook you would use in school. It is not. You can buy a simple softcover with 20 sheets in it to give it a try and not feel like you are wasting "good notebook". But you will soon realize that it feels not worthy of your thoughts and time. You will want to write into something better to give it more meaning. Hence, go for something better right away. As for what to write, literally anything. What gained your attention during your day, what angered you, what was good, some philosophical topics you were pondering or some conclusions you came to during your day. Long or short, it does not matter. This is one of those things where "just do it" is the answer. After couple of days you will settle into it and start forming your own style of what to write, when, how... Personally I have added two aspects to my writing - I always put a date before I start writing if the date has changed form last entry and I draw a border round it to make it visually distinguishable. And I also highlight the main words that the entry is about by underscoring it. Like a hashtag on twitter. This allows me to browse pages and quickly see when i wrote and what i wrote about.

I have also ordered an A6 "pocket" notebook where I want to write one or two sentences or just key words per entry as condensed conclusions to my thoughts or sayings or quotes i heard or read. It should be this condensed book of knowledge and philosophy where long form is not exactly suitable for it.

PS: in my first month, i wrote a lot because there was a lot on my mind. But after a while your brains gets a bit quieter because you are doing this "exercise" and you will go through a short phase where you will be looking for something to write about. That might last a week or two until you settle into the habit and write only when you feel like it. I kinda miss writing when I have nothing to write about so sometimes i just write meaningless thoughts just for the sake of writing. Not all the time, just sometimes.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#28
post #3

I have started to journal last month. I came to it through pens when I randomly decided to find a good pen when I got interested in it through some youtube videos(wow, YT actually working as intended, for once). To anyone interested, Pentel Energel 0.7mm is the best gel pen in the entire world, hands down. For oil-based ink, it would be Uniball Jetstream, i guess(i am gel guy). I always wanted to journal and thought…

But, only the Mitsubishi Uniball Jetstream SXN-210, not the SXN-150.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#29
post #17

I've direct experience on the power of handwriting to memorise concepts. When at the UNI, I was studying CS (while working part-time) less than 10 ya, and classes where full of laptops. I was take notes during lectures using only pen and paper and similarly I was taking my notes about the main concepts from the courses books. Then I was re-writing them again in a more summarised way, and then underline this notes and…

I wonder if the key is not really handwriting but rather a deliberate summarization, because I always used a computer to do that. I did have a printout of my own summary, of course, so papers may have also helped as well. (I also tended to walk around and mumble a lot when I really need to tackle a hard problem in my head, but not when studying.)

While I'm sure that deliberate summarization and also as a sibling posted, the slowness of the act are parts of it, I strongly suspect the actual mechanism of moving hand across space helps to engrave concepts in the mind. The connection between mind and body is strong. I can only speak to myself of course, but I've found that even quickly, absentmindedly, and imprecisely drawing out items on paper cements ideas in my mind way better than not doing it. I think the same concept applies to typing things out on a computer instead of copy and pasting. Even with minimal front-of-mind attention, the retention rate is stronger. Of course, writing on paper is even better than typing it on a computer.

That being said, I wouldn't trade typing on a computer for writing on paper, given the sheer speed I can achieve with one. But if we're limiting ourselves to trying to better increase retention and understanding, then I think pen-on-paper is the most valuable thing one can do.

Re: The importance of handwriting is now better understood

#30
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi, The website does not load - I checked on Firefox, Chrome and Edge.

Depends on region. It's blocked in Europe for instance.

It’s not. But the service (“archive.today”) doesn’t work with Cloudflare DNS though.
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