The first time I bought a physical journal, I was not expecting that a little yellow book could turn out to be more valuable than my phone. Compared to holding the entire digital world at my fingertips, the journal seemed mundane.
For years, I had kept track of my thoughts in my notes app, and it had proved a convenient way to log my feelings. However, as soon as I began using my new journal, I became hooked. Not only did it cultivate my creativity by allowing me to add more personal designs, I also noticed that I felt less stressed after keeping up with it daily.
As it turns out, I wasn’t alone. Based on research published on JMIR Mental Health, nearly 60% of adults experienced reduced symptoms of stress after journaling, especially after keeping this habit for over six months.
As a community, we should move away from digitalization when possible and collectively progress toward analog. Online resources may be easier to use, but physical, non-digital tools provide physical and emotional benefits.
Devices are enticing, capturing the attention of the average American for over seven hours each day, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. However, they not only negatively affect attention spans and face-to-face social connections but also impair cognitive ability.
Children who spent less than two hours on screens scored nearly 5% higher on tests than those who spent more than two hours on devices, according to the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. This is especially important during high school, where academic pressures are constant, and test scores are important.
Screen time is correlated with higher levels of comprehension, while activities such as reading and journaling on paper can reduce stress and improve mood by up to 37%, as stated by a study in JAMA Internal Medicine.
In contrast, more than 65% of adults experience digital eye strain from screens. This phenomenon can be aggravated by e-books, which require immense focus and often have small text, according to a 2016 Vision Council report. In the long term, eye strain can lead to chronic headaches and tearing of eye muscles.
It’s easy to let devices take over. But it is crucial that we consider the physical and mental benefits that come from using printed resources.
