I knew it all along!

I am a keeper of written lists.

Yes, I keep my calendar online, but each and every Sunday, I write out my macro level to-do list on a large (8 1/2" x 11") yellow pad. 

w/o whatever. Su-M-Tu-W-Th-F-Sa - with whatever's on the calendar for each day. Then a list of things I want/need to do for the week that aren't scheduled events. Items like order Orthofeet, organize tax info.

Every evening, I write out the to-do list for the next day on a small (5" x 7") yellow pad. This list covers scheduled events (my volunteer work, a dentist appointment, lunch with a friend); DuoLingo (I'm not learning much español, but I like to keep my streak going); and miscellaneous to-dos (laundry, mail out Easter cards, ping K, library). Needless to say, it's very satisfying to cross to-dos off the list once they're to-done. 

Before I go grocery shopping, I write out a shopping list. For this, I use a small red spiral notebook, and set things out - more or less - by where things are located in the store. Veggies and fruits grouped together; baking stuff; butter-eggs-cheese-milk; and so on.

When I go to the drugstore or hardware store for more than one thing, I either write those things down on a Post-it note and tuck it into my wallet, or - if there are enough items - use my small red spiral grocery notebook.

For all my lists, I use pen, but pencil would work just fine.

Yellow pads (large and small), Post-it notes, small red spiral notebook. Handwritten. (Even though my once near-perfect Palmer Penmanship has deteriorated to the point where I have to really focus on what I'm writing if I want to decipher the words.)

Yes, I know. Old school. (Old fogey.) After all, there's an app for everything, including list-making. So I could just type things into my calendar or some task-keeping, list-making app. Or even voice them in.

But as it turns out, the old-fahioned manual way of doing is good for you!

Recent research shows that handwriting enhances brain connectivity across regions associated with learning and memory, whereas typing doesn’t produce the same effect. Think about that for a second. The simple act of moving a pen across paper creates neural pathways that tapping on glass never will.

Isabelle Thibaud, a psychologist, puts it perfectly: “The physical act of writing activates different brain regions than typing. But it goes deeper.”

...Studies confirm that handwriting engages a broader network of brain regions involved in motor, sensory, and cognitive processing compared to typing, leading to more active cognitive engagement and better memory retention. (Source: Global English Editing)

When I do my Christmas cards, I used to write out the addresses, but decided that was too time consuming so I now use labels. A couple of weeks back, when I sent out my St. Patrick's Day cards - and there are only a dozen of them vs. 60 or so for Christmas - I got lazy and did labels. (Christmas. Valentine's Day. Paddy's Day. Easter. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Birthdays of course. I'm an inveterate card-sender.) Now I'll have to rethink the use of labels, as it would be better for the sake of my brain to hand-address the cards. I guess the tradeoff would be boosting memory and learning vs. how long it takes. And then there's the worrying about whether the Post Office will be able to interpret my scrawls and D-Liver D-Letter D-Sooner D-Better. 

Consider me D-Lighted to find out that old fashioned list-making is beneficial to the brain. 

Not that I didn't know it all along, but there's knowing and then there's knowing. 

Bravo, handwritten lists!