Why You Should Hand Write Thank You Notes

When was the last time you wrote a thank you note? Perhaps you received a gift from someone, or a colleague contributed to your fundraiser. Those are great reasons to write one, but have you ever written a thank you note simply to thank someone for their time?

A couple of weeks ago, I had coffee with a networking colleague of mine. We had a great chat, and it was a great use of time.

Later that day, we exchanged emails, thanking each other, and outlining any follow-up items we would tend to.

Then, last week, I received a written thank you note in the mail from him. It was unexpected and a pleasant surprise.

Benefits of Writing Thank You Notes

Writing a thank you note for a gift, donation or for someone’s time makes us stop and really think about our appreciation. It’s not merely a quick “thank you” and moving on. Rather, we are taking the time to express gratitude, and there are many benefits of expressing gratitude.

Another benefit is that it helps you stand out from the crowd and in today’s crowded world, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Then, there’s the benefit of actually writing something by hand, an art that seems to be dying. And, it’s too bad we don’t write by hand very much anymore because there are plenty of benefits for doing so:

• It increases your memory. The act of using a pen and paper can help you better retain the information you are writing, according to research. Writing by hand is great for taking notes.
• It keeps you sharp. Writing can be a chore to begin with, and writing by hand can be a mental workout. The act of writing is a great cognitive exercise as it engages your motor skills, memory and more.
• It taps into creativity. According to a study at Indiana University, writing by hand unleashes creativity in a way unlike any other activity, and it increases neural activity in areas of the brain, similar to meditation.
• It forces us to slow down. In our incredibly fast-paced society, that’s not such a bad thing.

But the benefits aren’t all about you. A hand-written thank you note benefits the recipient, as well.

In fact, new research has shown that the gesture of expressing gratitude in a handwritten note boosts positive emotions and well-being for both the writer and the recipient. Those emotions can lead to a stronger relationship between the two.

What’s more, not everyone receives information the same way. For some, an audible “Thank You” is enough. But others like to receive some sort of formal thank you, and a physical object that they can hold in their hands is a powerful way to provide one.

The next time you receive a gift — either a physical one, a monetary one or a gift of time — consider writing a thank you note.