The Do’s and Don’ts of Doodling

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been in a class where we have to fight every second to stay awake, or stay still. Whether it’s sitting through a needlessly long lecture, or watching a presentation, school can get really dull at times. A lot of the time the classes that students find the most boring are the ones that they have the most trouble with, or stress the most about. What if I told you that there is a super easy and super fun solution to finding it hard to concentrate or memorize large amounts of information in a short period of time? Doodling is a method that a lot of students and teachers use all the time. Some of the nation’s most famous presidents even doodled!

Many people may view doodling as a sign that your mind is elsewhere, but in reality doodling can help improve memory and concentration. The simple act of busying your hands and concentrating your restless energy – or lack thereof- into a small doodle keeps your mind clear of intrusive thoughts and mental to-do lists that would normally make it difficult to pay attention. 

Doodling can also help with controlling stress. Generally speaking, human beings like to make sense of their lives. Doodling can give your brian a little push in the right direction toward filling in gaps in your memory- even without you realizing it. Along with the internal organization of thoughts and memories can come a greater sense of self, may come a feeling of inner peace and relaxation. 

There are many benefits to doodling. “Doodling is really cool, and helps me focus.” – Jonah (7th). So, maybe next time your fellow students are practically melting off of their seats with boredom, you will be able to stay focused on the lesson at hand!