5 Reasons to Write on Paper in 2025

A science-backed case for putting pen to paper in a digital world

In a world where nearly everything happens on a screen, from meetings and planning to content creation and university work, it might seem odd to turn back to paper. But at Hummingbird Paper Co., we believe paper isn't outdated. It's essential.

There is growing evidence that using a personalised planner or custom planner designed for your lifestyle can offer powerful benefits for focus, memory, clarity, and overall well-being. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or creative professional, writing by hand can support your productivity and mental space in ways that typing simply cannot.

Here’s what the science says about why writing things down matters - and how a paper-based system like an A5 organiser or refillable leather journal can transform the way you work.

1. Writing by hand helps you remember more

A widely cited study by Mueller & Oppenheimer (2014) found that students who took handwritten notes retained more information than those who typed.

Using a planner for students or an academic planner for university students can actually help improve memory during lectures and revision. That’s because handwriting slows you down just enough to make you think. You summarise, rephrase, and engage more deeply with what you’re learning or planning - and your brain holds on to it longer.

2. It activates more areas of the brain

Research from James & Engelhardt (2012) used brain scans to show that handwriting activates more regions involved in language, memory, and motor function than typing.

When you use a daily planner or productivity planner with goal-setting pages, the simple act of physically writing helps your brain connect ideas more clearly. Whether you’re planning client work in a business planner, mapping out a launch in a content planner, or journaling through overwhelm, writing it out taps into more of your cognitive resources.

3. Improves focus and mindfulness

Unlike phones or laptops, a paper planner doesn’t come with distractions. Writing in an ADHD-friendly planner or minimalist daily planner with to-do lists can help you focus on one task at a time and reduce mental clutter.

According to YPO UK, handwriting encourages a mindful, intentional way of thinking. When you're not bouncing between notifications or tabs, you’re more present with what you're doing — whether that's setting goals or just taking a quiet moment to think.

4. It creates emotional connection

There’s a reason we treasure handwritten notes. They're personal, intentional, and emotionally meaningful.

Writing by hand - whether in a custom wedding planner binder or a daily journal - gives your thoughts a physical presence. It’s also a way to build connection with yourself, which is why many people use an anti-burnout journal to slow down and check in.

5. Writing down your goals makes them stick

A study from Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University found that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them.

That’s why every planner with goal setting pages we create at Hummingbird Paper Co. is designed with that science in mind. Whether you're using a personalised planner for entrepreneurs or a productivity planner with habit tracker, writing it down helps make it real.

Final thoughts

Working on paper isn’t just about stepping away from screens. It’s about creating a slower, more focused way to think, plan, and grow.

Whether you're using an A5 binder, a custom planner, or a refillable journal made from vegan leather, the way you write shapes the way you live.

At Hummingbird Paper Co., our planners are designed to help you build systems that reduce screen fatigue and bring more calm and clarity into your day - one page at a time.

Want to experience the benefits of writing by hand?
Start with a planner that’s made to work the way your brain does.