Text messages and emails may be more convenient, but we shouldn’t abandon this long-standing cultural practice just because they’re faster and easier.
But when it comes to letters and postcards, the impact of such messages lasts far longer than any alternative version offered in our high-tech world. It’s impossible to find a better way to communicate than this old-fashioned method.
They leave an indelible impression on people’s minds.
Writing by hand has been linked to better brain development and cognition than typing, according to research. In the same way that students learn more effectively by handwriting their notes and study guides, the moments you write down for others are more likely to stay in your memory, allowing you both to look back and appreciate them in the future.
They demonstrate your sincerity.
Receiving a “just to say hi” email in the age of oversimplified communication can be a big deal. To put it another way, writing out your thoughts on paper, stamping them, and mailing them to the person you care about is a powerful way of conveying an important message. Your thoughtfulness will be reflected in their gleaming smile.
They have a calming effect.
Additionally, studies show that writing for others has been linked to improved mood, reduced stress, and an improved overall sense of wellbeing, aside from the residual satisfaction that comes from knowing you made someone’s day. Like writing down your goals or gratitudes, sending a final draft to a friend or coworker can be an adrenaline rush and a great way to boost your self-confidence as well as your morale.
Every word is important to them.
With only so many square inches to work with, postcards force recipients to think hard about what they want to say and how it should be phrased. With a handwritten note, you only get one chance to get it right, unlike with a quick text or Facebook message, so you learn the value of preserving it.
They demand all of your attention at all times.
Writing by hand requires all of the senses to participate, so there is little room for multitasking (or hyper-speed task switching). It’s important to stay in the moment and think about what we want to convey to the recipient of our letter without distractions or other tasks occupying our attention in the meantime.
They respect the past.
Communicating in the way that generations before us did is sacred and romantic in the broadest sense. Whether it’s how your parents communicated with Santa Claus, how grandparents kept their love alive during wartime, or how immigrant families and friends shared written snapshots of their new lives, we’ve all heard the stories. Even if computers and smartphones prove to be more efficient, this kind of sentimental history will never be replaced by these devices.
They’ve stood the test of time.
“Since it is only the mind alone without a real-life companion, a letter has always seemed to me like immortality.” – Emily Dickinson
Letters and postcards can be read, appreciated, and preserved long after they are written and sent (and even after the senders and receivers are deceased). Letters preserve the memories of lives lived in a way that technological communication cannot, whether they are displayed on museum shelves honoring famous historical figures or saved in a scrapbook between two old friends. There is no doubt that they are tangible, personal, and real.
When all is said and done, if you are a business trying to have a more impactful and personal relationship with your customers or clients, it’s important to write to each one of them a letter. That may be time-consuming and just not realistic when you have hundreds, and that’s where handwriting services by Handwrytten helps you build deep and lasting bonds with your customers through the power of handwritten notes.
