“I don’t like using pen and paper. I’d rather type. I take my laptop everywhere with me. I can take notes with my laptop wherever I go. It’s so much more convenient.”
That is true, but there is a time when you should use your laptop, and times that good old fashioned pen and paper actually do the trick. I used to think that writing everything on my laptop was the way to go, but I’ve found that laptops can really affect your ability to pay attention to the human in front of you.
I’ve started to leave my laptop at my desk when I attend meetings, I come armed with my pen and paper. I feel a bit naked coming to meetings without a laptop, but I can guarantee you that I pay more attention than I did with my laptop! I don’t have to turn off my chat program, close mail, close my internet browser. I can’t send emails, so when we talk about sending an email – I make a quick note to send an email later, then pay attention. I don’t check out of the meeting to start emailing someone.
When brainstorming, I used to use my laptop. I’d draw diagrams, try to type my notes and arrange them. Sure, you can use software to brainstorm, but using pen and paper allows you to draw anything you want, scribble if you want. You want your final draft to always be on the computer, but drawing things on paper allows you to make mistakes where it doesn’t matter.
Almost anywhere you go, having a pen and paper will make you look better. When you’re meeting with someone and you write a note on a piece of paper, they feel like you are paying attention to them. I know that when I tell people things and they write it down, it sure makes me feel good.
Take a pen and paper with you wherever you go. If nothing else, it allows you to focus more on the human in front of you.
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