The writing (pun intended) has been on the wall for nearly a decade now: As many of us move to digital content almost exclusively, print magazines and newspapers are having to scale back in drastic ways. But what are we losing, with this shift?
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In two words: sensory stimulation.
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Flipping through the glossy pages of a magazine can stimulate our senses in ways that looking at a screen just can’t. Sure, Pinterest is a great tool but it doesn’t top curling up on the couch with a tangible magazine, earmarking pages—or ripping them out and pinning them to a cork board for endless inspiration. Opening a scent strip and rubbing it on pulse points to test a new fragrance can also be equally stimulating—and who hasn’t brought a magazine into the bath and paged through it while immersed in bubbles? (Bringing a computer or iPad into the tub just isn’t the same—not to mention it’s risky since water plus electronics can equal big trouble.)
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Sensory stimulation is important as we age to keep our senses sharp. Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch all diminish over time, so finding ways to keep them engaged—without also accelerating their degeneration—is key. Cardiovascular exercise can help because it increases blood flow all over the body, delivering oxygen and keeping our senses acute and vital. Sleep helps too because it’s during deep REM that our body does most of its repair work. Brain games (crosswords, puzzles) also stoke our senses, as does travel and learning and trying new things (e.g. classes, hobbies—even a new career). And you know what else helps? Reading print magazines and newspapers.
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Paper media entertains and informs, without causing the kind of eye strain a screen can—and you don’t have to worry about ear-damaging audio. A printed page also inherently activates your sense of touch, and the nostalgic smell of newspaper print or thick, colorful magazine pages can be comforting and calming. The tactile engagement of magazines versus just looking at and scrolling through screens can also feel more satisfying–and the impressions you make usually last longer. In fact, in many high school and college classes, teachers and professors still insist that students take notes with a pen and paper—rather than typing on their laptops. Although writing things out may take longer than typing, there is ample evidence that taking pen to paper cements information in the brain in a way that typing simply does not. Retention rates are also considerably higher when new info is physically written down.
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So, it stands to reason that reading a print magazine or newspaper can provide an elevated experience that enables information and inspiration to get better baked into the brain—and sustain a mood boost—from looking at gorgeous interiors, picturesque vacation spots, chic new fashion, or juicy makeup colors—for a longer period of time. Not to mention the numerous ways a gorgeously shot magazine photo portfolio can act as artwork (frame the pages or just tape/pin to the walls), setting a mood and style throughout a home.
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And while these benefits are especially important (and immediately relevant) for the Baby Boomers or Gen Xers who are starting to experience some sensory decline—any generation will benefit from reading and supporting print publications. So, let’s pledge, as a community, to subscribe, give subscriptions as gifts—and pick up copies of magazines and newspapers at the bookstore, newsstand, or airport while traveling. The goal: to keep the print medium (and our senses) alive.