Introduction
Every festive season at Diwali, I buy fountain pens and journals on the auspicious day of Dhanteras. This is a ritual that my grandfather instilled in me since my childhood as a festive Diwali gift. This Diwali I noticed that the regular stationery shop that I went for my festive shopping showed very little traffic and interest in stationery as a festive purchase. This made me wonder if shopping for such high involvement stationery product category has flipped to online shopping. But that is not true. Stationery items such as fountain pens and journals is a dying festive gift item. I have tried to dig deeper and research further on this disturbing trend.
Handwriting Behaviour Across Generations
Handwriting behaviour of different Generations in the increasing digital medium that the world is transforming is summarized in the table:
| Generation | Writing Style | Favorite Medium | Writing Vibe | Typing Speed (WPM) | Writing Time/Week | Notes |
| Gen Z (1997–2012) | Snappy, emoji-laced, meme-savvy | Notes apps, DMs, collaborative docs | “✨Just vibing✨ while writing my 3rd essay and 12th group chat reply” | 40–60+ | 10–15 hours | Schoolwork, social media, texting, journaling |
| Millennials (1981–1996) | Polished but personal, with a side of wit | Emails, blogs, Slack, journaling apps | “Crafting the perfect email subject line like it’s a haiku” | 35–55 | 8–12 hours | Work emails, creative writing, social media |
| Gen X (1965–1980) | Efficient, structured, no-nonsense | Word docs, emails, sticky notes | “If it’s not in the memo, it didn’t happen” | 30–50 | 6–10 hours | Professional writing, personal notes |
| Boomers (1946–1964) | Formal, thoughtful, sometimes poetic | Handwritten notes, letters, WordPerfect | “Dear Sir or Madam, I hope this finds you well…” | 20–40 | 4–8 hours | Less digital writing, more verbal or analog |
Handwriting is truly declining, and this has an alarming impact on the brain and personality!
Decline of Handwriting and its Impact on Pens and Stationery
From the table above, its seems that the younger generations have no preference for buying pens and stationery and prefer digital tools. While digital tools have transformed how we write, the core neurological benefits remain. Blogging, texting, and social media posts still engage the brain’s language and emotional centers amongst the younger generation. However, the brevity and speed of digital communication can limit depth and reflection. Decline in handwriting and therefore the demand for pens and stationery is evident on three key reasons:
Digital Dominance
- With the rise of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, typing and tapping have largely replaced pen and paper.
- Schools and workplaces increasingly prioritize keyboard skills over cursive or print writing.
Curriculum Shifts
- Many education systems have reduced or eliminated handwriting instruction, especially cursive, to make room for digital literacy and STEM.
Cultural and Generational Changes
- Generation Z and younger cohorts, raised on screens, often view handwriting as outdated or unnecessary.
- The convenience and speed of digital communication have made handwriting feel slow and inefficient to many.
Handwriting and penmanship is very therapeutic, it boosts dopamine levels and strengthens executive function in terms of creativity, memory, emotional well-being and resilience and clarity of thought. This is resulting in brain fog with the younger generations as their handwriting habits wane drastically towards digital mediums. AI and tools is further accelerating this further.
Reviving the Benefits of Handwriting in Rewiring the Brain and Personality
Scientific research increasingly shows that writing can rewire the brain, enhancing memory, emotional regulation, creativity, and cognitive flexibility. This transformation is made possible by a remarkable biological phenomenon: neuroplasticity. When you write, your brain lights up like a city at night. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas involved:
- Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for planning, decision-making, and organizing thoughts. It helps structure sentences and arguments.
- Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas: These language centers manage grammar, syntax, and comprehension.
- Motor Cortex and Cerebellum: Activated during handwriting, these regions coordinate fine motor skills.
- Hippocampus: Central to memory formation, it helps encode and retrieve information.
- Amygdala and Insula: These emotional centers are engaged when writing about personal experiences or feelings.
The connection between handwriting and personality has fascinated psychologists, graphologists, and curious minds for centuries. This field of study is known as graphology, and while it’s not universally accepted as a science, many believe handwriting can offer insights into a person’s character, emotions, and behavioral tendencies. If the benefits far outweigh any potential downsides, what can the younger generation do to increase on their handwriting habits. A few cues from my handwriting habits to revive the handwriting habits and behaviour.
My Handwriting Habits and Behaviour
Blending Traditional Paper Handwritten Notes with Digital
- I use my paper based handwritten notes and use Outlook calenders instead of planners that I gave up during Covid times. What’s more, even if I have to use digital hardware, it has a pen support to enable me to write. I use Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Book as a computer and Samsung Fold 5 as a phone which allows me to write on digital surface in the notes.
- Every year I buy and use a new Journal throughout the year to write my thoughts by hand, then digitise it by using a scanner to share it digitally.
Writing and Jotting is a Religion for Me.
- Like buying fountain pens and writing stationery every Diwali, I use these goodies for writing and jotting down points, notes doing calligraphy and this is a second nature or religion to me. I worship my pens collection during Diwali puja. Writing is a ritual and religion to me and I feel blessed to have such a lovely habit in me.
Investing in Writing Tools
- Since 1998, I have been buying high quality pens of different types. The diversity of pens and types that I have in my collection include:
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- Brands: Cross, Moonman, Pelikan, Lamy, Schaffer, Waterman, Pilot, Jinhao, Parker, Sailor, Platinum, Nahvalur, Hero
- Types: Mechanical pencils, calligraphy pens, fountain pens, ball point pens
- Pen Material: Resin, metallic (gold, silver, steel, aluminum, alloys), plastic, carbon fibre, composite materials
- Fountain pen nibs (Extra fine to broad): Retractable, stubs, needle point, flex
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- I will write another blog on the collection some other time
- I buy good quality 100 gsm and above high quality art paper and get it cut and bound into my journal book every year as writing on such high quality paper is pleasurable
- Inks that I use range in over 15 colours and different brands both Indian and premium imported ones
- When I am on the move, I have a pocket book to jot down ideas and points that I build on and write further when at leisure.
- If writing is difficult for a long period, just short manifest notes ensure discipline
- Every morning, I make a task list, notes and ideas not before starting work, but I write
Inculcate Calligraphy or Doodling
- Explore creative styles like brush lettering or doodle journaling. I started doing calligraphy in Class 8 in school. Those days I used bamboo nibs. These days I use calligraphy pens and loose sheets.
- I use various font available online to replicate them on paper.
Read Books on Writing Styles for Creative Writing
- I have compiled a list of authors who have provided material to break the mental inertia. Reading these books have helped me in creative writing
So let me conclude, not handwriting is not an option. It’s a slow brain death if you are handwriting. Let me wish that by next Diwali you will also indulge into pampering yourself in buying some pens and stationery and use them through the year to discipline your brain!
Festive Greetings and Enjoy the Mindfulness and Focus with Handwriting Things Down!