The Power of Writing Things Down
By: Gorana Dibra, Founder, Simply Sorted
In this journal:
- Why you need to start writing things down
- 7 reasons why it is beneficial to do it
- How to start doing it
You may have heard the old saying that we need to write things down to remember them. Well, this isn’t just an old saying; it’s truer today than ever. We live our lives at such a fast pace, always busy, and our minds are constantly racing. In the age of digital overload, the simple act of writing things down has an enduring power.
While walking, listening to something, or sitting at your computer, ideas and thoughts come to mind. Usually the easiest thing is to acknowledge them and then just to let them go, being certain that you will remember them again. However, this rarely happens or it happens to a small percentage of the thoughts we have. This way we lose lots of good ideas, we miss out on certain things, we forget to do things, we need to go shopping twice or we become disorganized. Imagine though, that this can change by simply writing things down when the idea and thought occur. This can be done in any way that suits you best—by keeping a notebook with you all the time and writing things down with a pen, a simple notes app on your phone where you just jot things as they come. Nowadays, you can send a voice note to your phone and it will transcribe it for you. Whatever way suits you the most, choose it, but just make sure you WRITE THINGS DOWN.
There are 7 reasons why it is beneficial to write things down.
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Improved memory and retention
Scientific studies demonstrate that writing activates multiple senses—visual, motor, and cognitive—helping to solidify memories more effectively. This is especially true when you use pen and paper, therefore you might use this method for writing goals, aspirations, and journaling, while leaving digital tools for tasks like to-do lists and shopping. It is not only the fact that you have it written down that will make you not forget, it is as well the act of writing which makes it more embedded in your brain. -
Clarity and focus
Writing forces you to clarify your thoughts and translate the abstract into the tangible. You are made to formulate what you want to say, and therefore, give more thought to your ideas. This is a great aid in decision making or solving complex problems. This is why brainstorming on a paper or whiteboard is an effective tool which many people and companies use. -
Emotional benefit
Journaling helps manage stress and express emotions. Writing down our hopes, dreams, and worries can liberate us from their emotional weight. When put on paper, things become real as they are expressed, and this means we get to deal with them better. Jotting down every day things and tasks, putting them in a more organized fashion, can help us reduce the stress of not forgetting and having things under control. All of this gives us emotional calm and reduces anxiety. -
Increased productivity
Writing lists, goals, and plans keeps you on track and reduces cognitive load. When we write things down, we are more able to see the total load and prioritize tasks. It helps us consciously decide what will be done and what can wait, giving us a clearer perspective. Therefore, we focus on what is important in life at a given moment. -
Greater chance of accomplishment
It’s as simple as that – when you write something down, you are more likely to accomplish it than if it’s sitting at the back of your mind. Furthermore, you get to cross it off with satisfaction when it’s completed. -
Unburdening of our short-term memory
As we have around 6000 thoughts in a day, our short-term memory can be quite burdened. If we are also expecting it to remember some of those thoughts, it gets overloaded quite quickly. Our brains just don’t have the capacity for all those things. Writing down our thoughts frees up mental space, allowing new ideas to flow without overburdening our memory. -
Reinforced commitment
Writing things down, wherever that is, strengthens your commitment to the goals and makes it harder for any unconscious resistance to creep in. This is why dieticians recommend writing down your calorie intake, psychologists recommend writing a journal and your thoughts, and fitness trainers tell you to track your exercise routine. Research consistently shows that people who document progress—whether in fitness, budgeting, or habit-building—significantly increase their chances of success. It is all about commitment and sticking to it.
