When faced with the task of writing something, some people become and anxious and worried. If your handwriting isn’t as legible as you’d like it to be or you just want to make it perfect, there’s no need to worry any longer. We’ve compiled some easy tips that you can try today to improve handwriting, and you’ll be amazed at just how helpful they actually are.
For some people, handwriting is something that they learn in school and then hope to never use again. Unfortunately, though, handwriting is a pretty common part of life even in the digital age where most things seem to be replaced by screens and tiny keyboards.
Handwriting is a skill that can be learned and perfected, and it won’t take as much effort as you think. If you’re someone who wants to know how to improve handwriting without spending hours of time perfecting the craft, these simple tips will give you everything you need to do so.
#17: Test Out The Grips
Most people don’t realize this, but there are actually multiple ways that you can hold a pen. If you’re struggling to write neatly it could just be that you have the wrong one. The tripod grip is the most common and the one experts recommend, but there are others that you should test until you get one that’s most comfortable.
#16: Writing Drills
If you want to get good at anything in life, you have to start from the beginning and be willing to practice. Writing drills are simple little exercises you can do to perfect your handwriting. They consist of things like loops and circles that allow you to hone in on the skill and perfect your writing. Once you know how to do these things well, writing some simple letters won’t seem that hard anymore.
#15: Practice When You’re Busy
People think the only way to learn something is to put some dedicated time into it each day, but the reality is many of us don’t have time to do that. Keep a notepad and pen handy next to your desk or by the phone, and you’ll find it much easier to practice while you’re doing something else. Even if you’re not giving it your full attention, your mind will still be able to focus on the writing and you’ll learn how to multitask as well.
#14: Fast Drying Ink
Not all writers will need to employ fast drying ink, but if you’re a leftie then this tip will appeal to you. We know that writing left handed causes quite a bit of smudging on the page, so if this is a problem you have and it’s causing your handwriting to suffer, invest in the right materials. A fast drying pen will do wonders for the neatness of your writing and they don’t cost much more either.
#13: Calligraphy Videos
You might not want to take things as far as learning calligraphy, but you’d be surprised at what this art form can teach you. Sometimes we need to think outside of the box and get inspiration from elsewhere. Head to YouTube and check out some of the calligraphy videos to inspire you and show you another perspective on your handwriting lessons.
#12: Reddit Help
Is there anything the people of Reddit don’t discuss? This online community has a very active and helpful handwriting thread where people can ask questions or share tips. You can get lost on here for hours checking out all of the information, and it’s a great place for starters to go and get some guidance. Who knows, you might become an expert one day yourself and be willing to give back to those who are learning?
#11: Look At Your Personal Style
One of the biggest mistakes people make when learning handwriting is trying to mimic someone else’s style. Handwriting is unique for every person and an expression of our personal style, so don’t try and change it. What you should be focused on is trying to make your own handwriting style neater and more legible without changing the look of it too much. Having to copy and learn someone’s else’s handwriting form will take years to do, so it’s better to work on your own.
#10: Keep A Relaxed Grip
Sometimes learning things makes us stressed out, and when we’re stressed we tend to show it in our bodies. Take note next time you’re writing about how you’re holding the pen, and you’ll probably find you’ve got a pretty tight grip on it. Make a point of relaxing the grip and letting the pen flow a little more freely, and you’ll likely find that handwriting gets a lot easier and neater on the page, too.
#9: Start A Bullet Journal
It can get a little tedious practicing on paper with no real purpose, so why not make learning handwriting fun? A bullet journal is a great place to start as there’s no need to write lengthy paragraphs to make one. Invest in a blank journal and give each day a page where you make short bullet points about what you did, how you felt, and any other information you want to keep note of.
#8: Practice On Lines
While it’s perfectly fine to practice your handwriting on blank pages of paper, you might find it helps your form more to use lines. There are various worksheets you can download from the internet or invest in a notebook with lined paper. It might not seem like much, but the structure it offers will help you perfect your handwriting, making it even sized and spaced.
#7: Instagram Inspiration
Instagram is a treasure trove of creative works, and there are a huge number of handwriting pages out there to check out. Sometimes just watching someone use their pen and create curves and lines can show you how wonderful handwriting is, and help you see some techniques they use so you can try them for yourself. There are tips for beginners and serious experts, giving you the best of both worlds when you’re looking for some inspiration.
#6: Try Different Paper Rotations
Whenever we’re struggling with handwriting we’re always quick to blame the pen or ourselves. However, sometimes the issue could be as simple as the angle of your paper. If you’re really struggling to get into the flow of handwriting, experiment with a few different paper rotations to see which one feels best. Everyone will have their own preference so it could just be that you haven’t found yours yet.
#5: Invest in A Quality Pen
If you’ve ever borrowed a pen off someone before and noticed how nice it made your handwriting, there’s a good reason for this. People invest in quality pens because they’re better made, will make your lines smoother, and give a comfortable hold, all equaling better handwriting. Spend a little money and get yourself a worthy pen and you’ll see the instant difference. Make sure to keep it safe somewhere because nice pens are pretty tempting to take, especially in the workplace.
?#4: Write Complete Sentences
When learning to write, we often focus on one letter at a time. While this is a great way to practice, it shouldn’t be the only way. It’s not often in life you’ll just be writing one letter at a time, so you should practice exactly how you write. Write full sentences and words so that you understand how they flow together and the spacing that’s required. This will help you understand the letters on their own and when used with others.
?#3: Posture And Stretching Matter
You should always warm up and stretch before exercising, and handwriting is no different. If you’re new to this practice and always feel a little tense, you can do some stretches to warm up your fingers, hands, and wrists before you begin. Posture matters also, so you should avoid hunching over the page as you write and always keep a straight back.
?#2: Retrain Your Wrist
Sometimes poor handwriting is only because of incorrect position, and a lot of this has to do with our wrists. You may very well need to retrain your wrist and start all over again in order to make your handwriting legible, and that’s perfectly normal. Hold your pen in the air and write: these are the muscles you should be using to write on paper, not your arms and wrists.
?#1: Take It Slow
Rushing never helped anyone achieve anything, and especially when it comes to handwriting. Understand that this is a skill that has to be learned and you’ll get nowhere when you rush. Whether you want to set some time aside each day or dedicate to practice every time you’re on the phone, a little bit of time each day without stress or pressure will be the best way to improve handwriting.
