Doodling as an asset.
Last week I read that Doodling during a meeting helps to increase retention up to 30%. The article I read said that the study was done by Jackie Andrade, who is a psychology professor at the University of Plymouth in England. The study appears online in Applied Cognitive Psychology.
Doodling, they say in the article about the study, actually helps us to focus and pay attention. I would like to take it another step and say that it also helps us to not think as much. Our active brains are always going on and on about something. When we write, or Doodle, it is often just enough of “doing” to get a break from our “thinking” and allow our natural intuition to kick in. So Doodle away as you focus better and along with that often comes a free gift of a new insight, idea or possibility.
Doodling is listed in the dictionary as “absentminded” scribbling. There is kind of a negative tone with absentminded, forgetful, distracted, daydreaming are the words that come to mind. Let’s add that it also can be a means of connecting to our intuitive self and that being a very positive event on most days.
Next time you Doodle, save your artwork to look over and review. Once in a while you may get a very pleasant surprise in the form of an idea. On another level Doodling is like making it OK to play. So keeping a pad and pencil near, even if you type in all your notes, is a good idea.
My first journal book give to me by my good friend Beth (MutualChoices.com) turned out to be a Doodling experience for me. Back then I thought journaling was a “Dear Diary” experience and I was not interested in writing so the whole book became page after page of Doodling. I still have it and one friend, Michele Blood (Musivation.com) suggested that I have it printed as a book. It is loaded with interesting Doodles, thoughts and yes some interesting possibilities.