Taking time to create sketches on high-quality paper benefits your brain by forming new neural connections, making you smarter in a sense. These new connections are particularly advantageous for creative tasks.
In contrast, there’s an unsettling alternative. When you rely solely on AI prompts, your brain doesn’t fully engage in the creative process. You may end up merely observing the outcome instead of actively participating—as if you’re watching an interactive movie. This can lead to a decrease in brain activity, making it lazier.
This reduced mental engagement can linger, as our brains naturally adapt to their circumstances. Outsourcing your cognitive efforts means your brain expends less energy. Working with paper, on the other hand, is a more active process. Engaging with paper through coloring, highlighting, and annotating is the most stimulating. I add colors not just for aesthetics, but because switching between sketching, coloring, highlighting, and shading trains your brain effectively.
It’s like exercising your brain; it becomes stronger through effort. All puns intended!
