As I sit at work, my laptop running on battery power after I left my charger at home, I wonder what I will do once the juice inevitably runs out.

I also have my iPad running Skype, brainstorming with the editor about ideas I can use for my article, which makes typing notes near impossible.

I finally get a pad and a pen and start writing down notes. Wait. My brain starts working overtime, coming up with ideas, and it gets me thinking about why this sudden barrage of thoughts happened away from a computer or digital device.

As I keep writing, more ideas pop up and I'm fully into a free-flowing brainstorming session.

So on the back of that, here are six reasons why I think working away from a computer is still beneficial in today's technology driven workplace.

1) Stepping away from the computer makes work more personable

In the current way of working, people have started to depend on the Internet as their source of inspiration, and will start the design process on their laptop or computer.

The joys of working without a computer, using your hands to physically write down words rather than use an arbitrary input device is much more satisfying and more personal.

Handwriting can also give you an indication of whether the idea has been carefully thought out, or has just been a stream of consciousness.

The more messy ideas are often written more carelessly, while the thought out ones are much neater and understandable.

Just because you're scribbling ideas down, doesn't mean it has to be disjointed or lacking direction. Knowing how you write, and how you structure that, can tell you which ideas you want to explore and express.

2) Pen and paper work everywhere

As alluded to earlier, there will come a time when you forget your charger and your laptop will die a slow death that will be agonizing for you to watch.

Moments later, you'll be walking down the street and an idea hits you. Or you're on a train, looking out the window, and you see something inspiring that you want to get down as quickly as possible.

You may be carrying a dead-weight laptop, but luckily, a pen and paper is all you need. They don't need any power, and combine to be one of the fastest ways of getting ideas down.

You can take them anywhere you feel like working. Need to create a logo based around nature? Go to a park and sketch your heart away!

3) Sans Machine - the visual world of the computer is distracting

As a graphic designer, you have to create a visual solution to a problem that has been presented to you. When you rely too heavily on desk research from the web, you can be swayed to do something different from your design concept.

This isn't an a bad thing; it can be considered research. However, if something is in front of you when you start brainstorming, you may find yourself copying the idea without extending the concept to fit with your brief. This development may be better done away from the machine.

Don't fall into this trap at the beginning, make sure you work away from the visually heavy world of the computer.

4) Get away from the confines of the industry standard

I feel design shouldn't be bound; there is a reason why things are designed the way they have been. If you start with the Adobe Creative suite in mind, for example, you will be bound by it. What Creative Suite allows you to do should not be a limit to everything you can do within the realm of design.

By starting to conceptualize with pixels before sketching/doodling concepts with pencil and paper, you are confining yourself and restricting your opportunities to create a unique and visually interesting design.

5) Sketching made easy

I confess, I am not the strongest illustrator, but I find sketching something before I get started gives me a solid understanding of where I want the project to go.

If I can sketch it out, I know there is usually a way I can make it computerized.

If it isn't as perfect as I wanted it to be on screen, the instinct is to over-edit half-baked concepts.

It's therefore much easier to work with something a little more physical than pixels on a screen. You should not develop ideas in the Creative Suit but rather publish there - once you've developed your artwork through your visual diary.

6) Procrastination is made much more difficult

If you are on your computer, you have access to funny images of cats doing silly things, whilst all your friends on Facebook want to chat with you, and YouTube offers an endless number of videos for you to watch. The temptation is to do anything other than start the work you have to get finished in a few days.

Drafting away from the computer will help you get away from it all, and will allow you to focus on the task you have in mind.

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to working away from a computer. As part of my creative toolbox, a pen and paper will always be a source of endless inspiration and opportunity.

As everything is becoming computerized, there is an emerging trend to make things look handmade, such as creating vintage inspired logos. Why not start off handmade as well; get creative with a white pen and a black piece of paper for different effects.

Written by Josh Borja on Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Josh has worked as a graphic designer at DesignCrowd, and is currently an in-house graphic designer for two community groups - Harbour City Bears and Penrith Musical Comedy Company. He credits both groups as being important in helping shape who he is. He says graphic design is a tool getting him to where he wants to be.