I like to make lists.

I have my own to-do lists, my vacation checklist of things to take, and a list of my favorite books and movies. My wife, always concerned that I might become too sedentary, has a never-ending honey-do list.

Since I handle the grocery shopping for the family, I always keep a grocery list.

Those of us who are logical, analytical left-brain types are often mocked by the right-brained among us. They perceive us as overly deliberate and organizational, lacking the carefree spirit to enjoy life.  To them, we are merely a group of dull list-makers. Moreover, the fact that we do this by hand (instead of using a digital notepad) makes us seem old-fashioned as well.

So, you will understand how curious I was when I read an article about those of us who write grocery lists by hand and what that behavior reveals about our personalities.  I braced for another mocking attack on the traditions of us well-organized old-timers.

According to an article on UPworthy.com titled “Psychology reveals surprising personality traits of people who still write grocery lists by hand,” individuals who prefer handwritten lists:

1. Maintain a mind that functions like a filing cabinet. Handwriting fosters greater brain connectivity patterns than typing. The physical action of moving your hand while writing creates spatial and temporal patterns in the brain that enhance learning. Who knew?
2. Are comfortable being tactile.  Writing with a pen is a complete sensory experience as it glides across the paper. This physical connection helps foster a deeper engagement with the task at hand.
3. Don’t buy on impulse. People who write lists on paper tend to make more planned purchases and make fewer impulse buys. True confession: I might deviate from this profile, as I’ve been known to include a few unplanned purchases. After all, who can resist Promised Land’s Midnight Chocolate Milk when it is on sale?

In the spirit of full disclosure, there are some downsides to handwritten grocery lists. You might forget the list at home. You might not be able to read your own handwriting. My dad always labeled my handwriting as chicken scratch and thought I had a future as a doctor writing those illegible prescriptions.

Still, those are risks I am willing to take. I have learned that I am one of those people who likes to make lists because I can check off the things I have done, giving me a greater sense of accomplishment. Check, check, check.

Now, if I could just get my wife to stop thinking her life’s purpose is to make a daily honey-do list for me, I could be satisfied with my weekly trips to Publix, even if I do go off-list and sneak in some Midnight Chocolate milk.