According to a 2016 Harvard Medical School study, doodling can change your physical and neurological experience in the moment, helping you go from a stressed or exhausted state to a more centered, focused one. In a 2009 study, psychologist Jacqueline Andrade assembled a group of 40 individuals to monitor a rambling voicemail. Half of the group doodled while they listened, and the other half did not. Unbeknownst to them, their memories would be tested, and those who doodled were able to recite back 29% more information when asked to recall the details from the call.
You can use doodling as a tool to give your brain a break without losing focus to your task at hand. Further, the act of doodling can release the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine into your brain, making you feel more motivated, focused, and better equipped to make decisions.
About the Author
