Boomers and Gen Xers can still recall phone numbers they haven’t dialed in decades.
Why?
Because they didn’t just memorize those numbers—they used them. Repeatedly. With their fingers turning rotary dials or pressing physical buttons while they were repeating them in their head each time. The information was tied to action, repetition, and sensation. That’s how memory works best.
Compare that to now:
We are in a one-touch information environment now. You speak a number into your phone once, and poof—it’s saved. You never actually use it again. The brain doesn’t need to hold it because your device is doing the heavy lifting. The same is happening with directions, passwords, birthdays, even appointments. Most of us cannot even repeat the phone # of our best friend any more.
The result?
Our brains have nearly no opportunities to consolidate short-term learning into long-term memory. We’re interacting with knowledge in a way that’s almost disposable—like scrolling headlines instead of reading stories.
Why Tactile Learning Still Matters
Modern life favors speed and convenience. But what we’ve gained in access, we may have lost in depth. We collect information almost as a compulsion now, but never revisit it. Our phones are getting smarter – but us? Not so much.
Neuroscience backs this up:
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When we write something by hand, it activates areas of the brain linked to memory and understanding.
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Using our hands—whether to write, build, or manipulate—lights up multiple sensory pathways.
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The more senses we involve when learning, the more the brain pays attention. Think about it – read it, write it, which causes you to reread it and say it over in your mind, then read it back again – 4 “touches” vs. one or maybe even never touch it if you copy and paste on your phone instead of typing it in
This is why “going old school” isn’t just nostalgic—it’s neurologically effective.
Try This: Go Backward to Move Forward
If you want to remember more, understand better, and feel more present with what you’re learning, try these simple (but mighty) shifts:
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Write it down. Notes taken by hand lead to better retention than typed ones.
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Use paper. Physical planners, journals, or printed materials give the brain more “hooks” to hang memories on.
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Practice recall. Don’t just reread—try closing the book and explaining it to someone else.
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Get tactile. Use flashcards, sticky notes, or physical objects to reinforce what you’re learning.
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Repeat actively. Spaced repetition and hands-on review are more effective than passive exposure.
It’s not about giving up technology—it’s about using it more intentionally, so we don’t let it replace our own minds.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let It Slip Through
We’re living in a time where information is endless, but genuine learning is rare. If you feel like your brain is more sieve than sponge lately, that’s not failure—it’s feedback. It’s your mind telling you it wants to touch information again. To feel it. To make it stick.
Old-school methods might feel slow or outdated. But maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly why they work.
Credits & Resources:
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Article inspired by: “We Don’t Learn Like We Used To — and That’s a Problem” by Julie Bogart
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Research highlights from:
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Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking.
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Fernand Gobet, Chunking Mechanisms in Human Learning and Memory, Cognitive Science.
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Learning and the Brain Conference Proceedings (2023), Boston MA.
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