One group doodled by shading in pre-drawn shapes while listening to the voicemail, and remembered 29% more of the names of the guests that could come than the group that didn't doodle. In another widely cited study, two groups listened to the same telephone message listing guests that were either coming to a party or unable to attend. If you're ever stuck in a rut at work, try turning off your mind and putting a pen to paper. Penciling a tiny design may not be as effective as pausing the meeting to stand up and stretch, but a minor distraction to keep your hands busy can allow your self-control to rest for just a moment so that you can carry on listening to all of that important information. Sitting still in a meeting and listening to someone talk requires a lot of self control (at least for me), and doodling can provide that small break your mind needs to keep paying attention. One case study suggested that self control is like a muscle - the more you use it, the more tired it gets, and then it needs a break in order to keep going.
It may be surprising, but multiple theories of cognitive function suggest that the answer is yes. Can doodling actually improve memory, concentration and focus?
If you turn to the person next to you and start sketching a full portrait of their face, then voila, you're drawing. In short, if you're just making random marks like simple flowers or patterns on your paper, it's doodling. It's easy to get engrossed in your doodles and start actually drawing, but you'll notice that once you make the switch, you stop paying attention to the person you're supposed to be listening to. On the other hand, drawing requires conscious thought and the artist's full attention. Doodling is the aimless pen or pencil marks you make while your senses are otherwise occupied. When you're doodling, it feels like your pencil has a mind of its own.įirst, I wanted to draw out the distinction between doodling and drawing. So, you now have permission to uncap that pen and doodle on.
You know those little flowers and 3D boxes that you draw on your paper when a meeting starts to go a little too long? What if I told you that your absent-mindedly doodles can help you pay better attention, improve your concentration and even give you a glimpse into the inner workings of your mind?ĭoodling has long been mislabeled as a useless habit that makes it look like you're not paying attention, but numerous studies have suggested its power to improve cognitive function.