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Improving handwriting when exhausted & slightly psychotic? (piefed.social)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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Hey,

I'm annoyed that when I am in certain super cluttered mental states, that I can't read my handwriting after.

My handwriting generally isn't great, but I used to do shorthand for journalism, so I know how to write readable. But it requires some strain, especially in these states, where the focus is lost on what I actually want to write. So either I write clearly then, but won't be able to free-flow, because I strain on the writing, or it's unreadable after.

Usually I'm just scrambling to find a paper and pen, since getting to my offline laptops and booting them up is too much. But I'll also be getting a mini-laptop now for this purpose.

Still, though, I feel like there should be something that can be done.

Thanks for your help :)

E: I'm talking about a situation of being myself with stuff that needs to be let out, not doing professional work or similar.

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[–] 2 points 9 months ago

So either I write clearly then, but won’t be able to free-flow, because I strain on the writing, or it’s unreadable after.

From a shorthand user to another, don’t try to force those two things in the same process: free flowing, aka letting it go, and taking exact notes.

  • don't try to write everything down. Exactly like when taking notes during a lecture or when doing an interview. Don’t transcribe: summarize, synthesize. When doing an interview, let the audio recorder do the absolutely boring (but still essential) job of being true to what the person is saying, allowing you to fully focus your attention on getting the important ideas jotted down as well as your own reactions to whatever they are telling you.
  • As far as that 'free flow' state of mind is concerned: use it to, well, free flow which implies to not worry at all about transcribing it, at least imvho. Once again, only jot down key words, ideas, notions. Most of the time complete sentences won't be your friends at this moment. If you really fear losing that one good sentence (why bother? If it's good it will stick and if it is not good riddance) you may want to write and talk aloud at the same time, recording it as a backup.
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