Let me start this off by saying I love technology. My phone is way too often in my hand; my MacBook and I love to watch Netflix on rainy days, and I’m currently typing this very article on a computer (ironic, I know). As technology has developed, paper materials (specifically the ones that I love) have become somewhat useless because we have everything at the touch of our fingers. Need a reminder there’s an app for that—calendars and books are now on your phone or tablet, why would you use paper? Here is where my love story begins and technology is pushed to the backburner. I absolutely love paper: taking notes, using a planner, reading a book, writing outlines, and using Post-it notes. So now I’m taking it upon myself to explain to you why it’s okay to get back together with the ex we call paper. There are five reasons we need the love story with paper in our lives, and if you adopt only two of them I’ll be a happy camper.

1. Taking Notes : Taking notes on paper means you are more likely to pay attention in class and focus on what your professor is actually saying. I know this means you can no longer shop online or scroll through Pinterest and Facebook, but it does pay off. Simply sitting in class doesn’t mean you are absorbing the material. When taking notes by hand you will have fewer distractions. These distractions may be fun, but I’m paying about $150.00 per class to attend, so I may as well get as much as I can out of the experience. Not only will you be less distracted, but also there are studies that show a student who hand writes their notes is more likely to absorb the information being presented than a student who types them. If that’s not an incentive, I don’t know what is!
2. Use a Planner : I absolutely love paper planners and swear by them. My lifetime goal is to be as organized as humanly possible, and for me, a paper planner does that. Google calendar is great and so are the other options on our phone and laptops, but I have discovered that a paper planner is the best option for me. The paper calendar is more fun and allows you to show off your personality. The best part is the ability to customize it however you would like! I’ll stick to my teal and grey chevron, but you can have skulls or bumblebees too! I personally enjoy big planners that are the size of an average notebook. I recently spent a little extra to order a personalized planner through Etsy. It came in multiple patterns, and I got to choose the layout. This was a biggie for me! The thing is, planners are fantastic. You get to choose the one that you like best, and if you begin to use it and take it seriously, a paper planner can change the way you organize your life and academics for the better! Whether you’re an athlete, club president, member of Greek life, or a combination of all three, a paper planner is a life changer!
3. Reading a book : This is a no brainer for me; reading a book on a computer, phone, or tablet is just not the same as being able to turn the page. It is the perfect way to unwind, step away from everything happening in your life, and learn something new—or step into a story and lose yourself. When reading on a tablet, computer, or your phone, it becomes more difficult to step away from all that is occurring around you. The notifications are still buzzing, and the temptation to make a quick check is always there. With a book, the words on the page can carry you away to a new place or teach you a new technique in the kitchen. A book is a vacation you take while sitting in your dorm room. Let the pages of a real book take you away. Put the electronics away and indulge yourself, because paper truly is a wonderful thing, especially in the bound form!
4. Writing Outlines : When I was a sophomore in high school, I had an English teacher who refused to let us type anything for a paper until the outline, body paragraphs, introduction, and conclusion were completely handwritten. I was against this for the first half of the trimester with the belief that it would waste my time and be useless. I was wrong. Let me say that again, I was wrong. Handwriting the entire paper was useful in so many ways, the outline being the most important. It gives you the ability to write as many ideas as possible, all of the quotes you could possibly want to use, and a thesis. This allows you to highlight what you like and keep everything originally on the paper, which in this day and age we don’t often do. I was as guilty as the next person when it came to writing papers—if there was something I didn’t like, I pressed delete, and lost it forever. The new approach teaches you to be more creative and write everything down whether you think you will use it or not. I became less stuck when writing papers and more organized, which is something we all need to improve on. If the only the only thing you adopt from this paper is hand writing your outlines, you will be amazed in how it will changed your life! Dr. Rakic: this is my thank you for forcing us to use this method four years ago—I wouldn’t change it for the world.
5. Post-it notes : These silly pieces of paper with adhesive make life even better! I use them for everything from making a to-do list and sticking it next to my keyboard to writing down a full school-year's worth of silly events and quotes to create the famous quote wall in my dorm room! They make amazing reminders to stick to your desk. They can also be a great way to cheer up a roommate or friend having a rough day. An informative way to let the roommate know you are taking a nap is by sticking it to the outside of your door. Not to mention, it's a tool to utilize when taking notes in class or in textbooks. Write down the main ideas or key terms in your notes; use them to mark important sections to review in a book, or quotes you want to use in a paper. When editing someone’s paper, grab a stack and write down comments or concerns. Post-it notes come in letters, shapes, bright colors, pastels, and boring old yellow—so choose your favorite and see how you can use them in your life!

Take a step back from all of the technology you know and love, and try something that isn’t necessarily new but that you haven’t used in awhile and see the change. Give paper a second chance, it deserves it. Let your love story begin again and learn to love the great paper. I did, and I don’t think paper and I will be breaking up any time soon!