Doodling can often be looked down upon as something someone does when they are not paying attention, however there is much evidence to suggest some life changing effects of doodling. From improved cognitive performance to reducing stress, the simple and therapeutic act of doodling can have amazing benefits to your day!
Why Doodle?
Impressively, doodling has been found to help improve memory retention, creativity, as well as the ability to recall information. One of the main benefits of doodling is that it stops your brain from entering its default state when you are supposed to be paying attention, which includes daydreaming and revisiting memories. Doodling whilst listening to long or mundane information can help keep your brain engaged and resist entering its default state, instead allowing you to multitask, keeping your brain occupied while paying attention to the external stimuli.
Telephone Case Study
Jackie Andrade, a Psychologist at the University of Plymouth, UK, undertook a study in 2009 which resulted in some of the most convincing and positive support for doodling. Asking 40 participants to listen to a telephone message, half were asked to doodle, whilst the others were left to solely listen to the message. Those who doodled during the message were able to recall the information given over the telephone 29% more successfully than those who did not. This could be due to the action of doodling, keeping their brains at the right level of activity where they could concentrate and listen. The study therefore demonstrates how doodling can aid in our cognitive performance, at home and at work.
Igniting Creativity
The activity of doodling is a creative way of engaging your brain and can help you visualise and learn information through the aid of drawing. Doodling can help explore and express your imagination, to generate ideas, perfect for when you don’t have enough time to write down your thoughts! This enjoyable activity is a popular habit, helping to activate creative minds.
Stress Relief
Used by some therapists to help their patients tap into their unconscious mind to help access emotional issues, doodling can be a powerful way of us relieving ourselves of our inner thoughts and emotions. Doodling at work can also help to release a build-up of stress, through repeated and simple patterns and shapes that can aid in refocusing our minds.
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