In a digital age, we almost never write things by hand. However, multiple studies have shown that this act has many benefits.

New brain research, led by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, confirms the same: choosing handwriting over using a keyboard results in better learning and memory.

The study was conducted using equipment to track and record brain wave activity. The participants included 12 young adults and 12 children. This is the first time that children have participated in such a study. Each subject was asked to write by hand and type on a keyboard while wearing a hood with over 250 electrodes. The sensors in the electrodes are very sensitive and pick up the electrical activity that takes place in the brain. Each examination took 45 minutes per person.

The results showed that the brain in both young adults and children is much more active when writing by hand than when typing on a keyboard. According to Van der Meer, plenty of senses are activated by pressing a pen on paper, seeing the letters written and hearing the sound made while writing. These sense experiences build contact between different parts of the brain, opening the brain up for learning.

Van der Meer believes that the results stress the importance of children being challenged to draw and write at an early age, especially at school. ''Learning to write by hand is a bit slower process, but it's important for children to go through the tiring phase of learning to write by hand," she said.

The hand movements used to form the shapes of letters are beneficial in several ways. "If you use a keyboard, you use the same movement for each letter. Writing by hand requires control of your fine motor skills and senses. It's important to put the brain in a learning state as often as possible," Van der Meer added.

She has become the world’s longest-reigning monarch(在位时间最长的君主), following the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13.

Now a new TV series called The Crown, which started to air on Nov 4 in the US, is looking back at the time when Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ of the UK prepared to take the throne(王位)at a 25-year-old. She would face a series of challenges after she was crowned(加冕)following the unexpected death of her father, George VI, in 1952.

One answer is that the royal(王室的)family knows how to move with the times. Once upon a time, kings, queens, princes and princesses were distant from everyone. Today, while they still have some of the old mystery, the royals are true celebrities(名人)like famous sports and pop stars. Indeed, they are upper-class celebrities. There are hundreds of Hollywood actors, but there is only one queen of the UK.

Because they are seen so much—in magazines, on TV and on the internet—the royals must now be careful. It is not enough to be famous; one must “deserve” this fame. That’s why the new, younger generations of royals are so important to the royals’ chances of surviving. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s commitment to many good causes has also given the royal family an image it highly needs.

In addition, old-fashioned British eccentricity(古怪)explains why the royals have stayed for so song. “The British monarchy is valued because it is the British monarchy,” the BBC noted. “We are an old and complicated society.”

It is quite common for people to have high expectations of other people: much higher than they would for themselves. In fact, sometimes you will see someone criticize another person for doing the exact same behavior that they do. For example, a woman makes note that another mom has gained weight. Yet, this particular mother has gained weight herself. She seems to expect the other mother not to have gained weight, but does not have this expectation for herself. I feel this is a problem that could be holding people back from moving further in life. I have a few tips on how to expect more from yourself and less from other people.

First, you need to always remember that before you expect something out of somebody else, you need to have actually conquered this goal yourself. In fact, maybe try asking yourself, “Why do I even have this expectation of another person?”

Second, start taking a really good look at yourself. You may find what you are doing right now is below your level of expectation from yourself. Use the words. “What do I expect of myself, and what can I do to improve myself?” This will automatically help distract you from focusing on other people. Ultimately, you only have control over your own behavior and you have zero control over other people.

Lastly, the moment you feel you are disappointed because another person did not come through for you; literally say to yourself. “It’s not for me to have those expectations on that other person.” Just the act of letting yourself know in the moment that you’re not supposed to have high expectations of the other person will automatically help you as an individual stop feeling constant frustration, anger, and disappointment from those around you.