By Andrea Aro  The art of handwriting has become almost obsolete as more and more people depend on spell checks and easy to change fonts and font sizes. (PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN) National Handwriting Day was created to remind people about the importance of writing by hand. Handwriting is believed to be as unique as one’s fingerprints. Studies have shown that writing letters, notes, journals, and essays by hand has “brain-friendly benefits.” It is time to get back to handwriting. Listed below are the benefits that you can get from writing by hand. Boosts memory Taking notes in a laptop is a lot quicker and easier than writing by hand, but according to psychologists writing something by hand has a “long-lasting effect” on memory. Those who handwrite have better memory retention. Unleashes creativity Putting pen to paper helps develop creative ideas. It is also good for developing skills such as drawing, sketching, and painting. According to Dr. Alison Keegan, handwriting expert, “The act of putting pen to paper, forming raw thoughts and ideas, is crucial for individual creativity.” Handwriting enhances the creative process because creative ideas take time to emerge. Improves spelling These days, it is very easy to depend on spell checks to correct spelling errors – this doesn’t allow a person to master spelling skills. Writing by hand can help a person master spelling skills as it teaches one not to depend on aids and shortcuts to correctly spell words, according to a report from Trinity Grammar School. Combats dyslexia Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding), according to Mayo Clinic.  According to research, writing or learning cursive helps people with dyslexia create a “stronger association for learning and memory.” Sharpens aging minds Writing by hand as mentioned earlier can help with information recall, making it a great tool for people to help retain their memory as they age. Calms the body and nerves Writing a soothing sentence like “I will be more peaceful” 20 times per day can actually calm a person, graphologist and handwriting expert Dr. Marc Seifer said. "This actually calms the person down and retrains the brain," he said. The Writing Instrument Manufacturer’s Association (WIMA) decided to invent a National Handwriting Day to help people remember the art of handwriting. Handwriting is an art form that is embedded in our history. It has started and ended a war, sparked love affairs, and declared revolutions.