What are the benefits of doodling, and does drawing in a meeting or lesson distract you? The psychology of margin doodles, their limits and common myths.
In the middle of a long budget meeting you glance down at your notebook: the margin is filled with little cubes, intertwined spirals and a cat's face you have no idea why you drew. While the manager opposite you was speaking, you were, without realising it, moving back and forth between pen and paper. Perhaps you feel a little embarrassed: "Did I look as though I wasn't listening?" You may have done the same thing in your school years and been told by a teacher, "Listen to the lesson, stop drawing." So is doodling really a sign of distraction, or is it one of the ways the mind gathers itself? The benefits of doodling have become a subject of curiosity in recent years, both in everyday life and in psychological writing. In this article we look at what margin doodles may mean, what they may help with, what they cannot do, and which popular beliefs are exaggerated.
What Is Doodling, and Why Do We Do It?
Doodling means shapes, patterns, letters or figures drawn on paper without any particular aim or plan, usually while paying attention to something else. Squares drawn on a notepad during a phone call, stars in the corner of an exercise book during a lesson, decorating the letters of your name over and over in a meeting... All of these are doodles.
The most distinctive feature of doodling is that the outcome does not matter. Nobody draws the spiral in the margin in order to exhibit it. In this respect doodling differs from drawing: in drawing there is an intention to produce something; in doodling, what comes to the fore is the movement of the hand and the state the mind is in during that movement.
Different explanations are offered for why people doodle:
- Regulating arousal levels: When the mind starts to go numb in a boring setting, the hand may be trying to "stay awake" with a light movement.
- Releasing tension: In anxious or restless moments, small repetitive movements may ease physical tension a little.
- Accompanying thought: Some people say ideas flow more easily when they draw something with a pen while thinking through a problem.
- Habit: It may be a hand habit carried over from childhood.
None of these explanations accounts for every situation on its own; often several play a part at the same time. The same person may doodle one day because they are bored and another day because they are tense.
The Benefits of Doodling: What Does Research Say?
There are some small experimental studies examining the effect of doodling on attention and memory. Some of these studies have suggested that participants who doodled simple shapes during a boring listening task were able to remember what they heard slightly better. This finding has often appeared in the media under headlines such as "Doodling boosts your memory."
However, caution is needed here. Most studies in this area have been carried out with small samples, and the results have not been the same in every study. In some studies, doodling did not affect recall, and complex drawings were even observed to divide attention. The results appear to vary according to the type of doodling, the difficulty of the task and the characteristics of the person.
There are several possible explanations for why the results are so variable. First, what we call "doodling" covers very different behaviours: drawing random lines on paper and carefully filling in a shape do not carry the same mental load. Second, people's levels of attention and thresholds for boredom differ; a movement that provides one person with the light stimulation they need to stay alert may break another person's focus. Third, short, artificial tasks in a laboratory are not exactly like long meetings or lessons in real life. That is why the result of a single study should not be read as "a rule that applies to everyone".
What can be said on the basis of current knowledge is this: the benefits of doodling may apply to some people and in some situations, especially when the task is boring and requires passive listening. But to say that doodling strengthens everyone's attention or memory goes beyond what the available evidence can support.
A spiral in the margin is not proof that you weren't listening; but it is not proof that you were listening either. The healthiest way to look at it is with curiosity.
The Difference Between Simple Doodling and Complex Drawing
To understand how doodling relates to attention, it helps to divide it into two.
Simple, repetitive doodling: Cubes, circles, lines, waves. Drawings like these do not require much thought. The hand moves almost by itself, while the mind remains largely open to what is being said. It gives the person a light "occupation" without getting much in the way of the main task.
Complex, planned drawing: A detailed landscape, a character design, a shaded portrait. Drawings like these demand attention; they require decisions, looking and correcting. In this case the drawing starts competing for attention with the conversation being listened to.
A practical test might be this: while doodling, can you follow what is being said and, when needed, speak up and contribute? If the answer is yes, doodling is most likely not a problem for you. If at the end of the meeting you have no memory of what was discussed but there is a magnificent dragon in your notebook, perhaps your attention has drifted elsewhere.
This distinction also applies to children's doodles at school. A pupil drawing small stars in the corner of their exercise book may well be listening; a pupil designing a comic-book character for the whole lesson has most likely switched off from the lesson.
The Benefits of Doodling in Meetings and Lessons, and Their Limits
The effect of doodling varies according to the features of the setting and the task.
Situations where it may help:
- Long, one-way presentations with little visual support
- Phone calls or online meetings
- Moments of waiting, including anxious waiting (for example while waiting for exam results or your turn at a medical appointment)
- Moments when you need to think but your hands are idle
Situations where it may get in the way:
- Meetings that require active participation, note-taking or quick decisions
- Lessons where you need to follow visual material (for example while watching a solution being worked out on the board)
- Moments when the drawing becomes detailed and "fun" and takes over from the main task
There is also a social dimension. In some workplaces doodling may be perceived as a sign of disinterest or disrespect. Let us say someone who works at a bank keeps drawing with a pen while their manager is speaking, and after the meeting is met with a pointed "Are we boring you?" Yet they were drawing in order to listen. In such a situation, explaining at a suitable moment that "Fiddling with a pen helps me focus while I'm listening" can prevent a misunderstanding. Respecting the culture of the setting and, where needed, combining doodling with note-taking is also an option. For example, writing the topics discussed inside little boxes and decorating around them both shows that you are listening and keeps your hands busy.
The Calming Side of Doodling and Its Use in Everyday Life
Another aspect of doodling is that it can be calming. Repetitive lines, patterns and rhythmic hand movements work for some people like a short break, a moment to breathe. For this reason doodling can be seen as related to activities such as mandala colouring or pattern drawing.
Perhaps the least discussed of the benefits of doodling is this: the lightness of being able to do something without having to produce anything. At a time when we feel constant pressure to be productive, a small hand movement with no outcome can give the mind a brief space.
A few suggestions for those who would like to use doodling as a deliberate break in everyday life:
- Carry a small notebook with you. Doodling for a few minutes instead of scrolling on your phone can be a simple way of stepping away from the screen.
- Don't care about the outcome. As soon as you start trying to make it look nice, doodling turns into a performance. The aim is to let your hand move freely.
- Combine it with your breathing. Simple rhythms, such as breathing in while drawing one line and breathing out on the next, can be a short calming exercise.
- Give a feeling a shape. On a tense day, try leaving that tension on the paper as a line or a shape. This can be a small way of noticing and naming the feeling.
- Make use of waiting time. In a hospital waiting room, while waiting for a result, or on a long journey on the commuter bus, doodling can keep you company through an anxious wait.
An important distinction needs to be kept here: activities like these are a form of self-care and creative break; they are not therapy. Doodling may help some people; but it should not be expected to resolve long-lasting anxiety or low mood on its own.
Do Your Doodles Reveal Your Personality?
Online you often come across lists such as "People who draw cubes are logical", "People who draw eyes are mysterious" or "People who draw spirals are anxious". Interpretations like these may be fun; but they are not scientifically supported.
Drawing firm conclusions about personality, mood or psychological problems from drawings is not a reliable method, for adult doodles any more than for children's drawings. Someone who always draws cubes may do so because the cube was the first "three-dimensional" shape they learned at school, because of the type of pen they had that day, or simply out of habit.
When looking at your doodles, you could try being curious rather than interpreting: "Why did I draw so much today? Was the meeting boring, or was I tense?" These questions can open a door to getting to know yourself; but it is more accurate to look for the answer in your experience rather than in the drawing.
Doodling in Children and Teenagers: Notes for Teachers and Parents
At school, doodling is often treated as a matter of discipline. A pupil whose exercise book margins are full of drawings may be labelled "uninterested in the lesson". Yet some children and young people can sit and listen for longer when their hands are kept busy.
A few suggestions for teachers and parents:
- Observe first. When the child is asked a question while doodling, can they answer and take part in the lesson? If so, doodling may be a listening strategy for them.
- Give it a suitable space. Rather than the pages where lesson notes are written, a separate scrap of paper or the back pages of the exercise book can be used for doodling.
- Don't shame them. Saying "Drawing pictures again?" in front of the class both embarrasses the child and makes it harder to understand the real issue.
- Don't interpret their drawings. A skull or lightning bolt in the margin is most often inspired by a series or game they have been watching; on its own, it is not a sign of danger.
In the secondary school years, especially during the intense periods of preparation for the LGS and YKS (Turkey's national high-school and university entrance exams), doodling can be a small breathing space for some young people between long hours of lessons and practice tests. Allowing it also helps young people recognise their own way of regulating their attention.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Doodling is most often entirely ordinary behaviour. In some cases, however, it may be part of a broader difficulty with attention:
- If you have marked difficulty sustaining attention in almost every meeting, lesson and conversation
- If forgetfulness, disorganisation and leaving tasks unfinished affect many areas of your life
- If restlessness, being unable to sit still and a need to keep your hands constantly busy appear together with intense anxiety
- If difficulty concentrating is accompanied by long-lasting low mood, sleep problems or lack of motivation
If you are curious about difficulties with attention and activity that have been present since childhood, our article on ADHD symptoms can offer a framework; for the effects of divided attention at work, you can read our article on the focus crisis. These signs do not on their own amount to a diagnosis; assessment should be carried out by a professional. In individual therapy, difficulties with attention, anxiety and everyday functioning can be addressed in line with the person's own experience and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to doodle in a meeting?
That depends on the culture of the setting. In some workplaces it is seen as normal, while in others it may be perceived as disinterest. If doodling helps you listen, briefly explaining this or combining doodling with note-taking can reduce misunderstandings.
My child doodles constantly in lessons. Should I be worried?
On its own, it is not a cause for concern; many children doodle while they listen. However, if you frequently receive feedback from teachers about attention, if homework is constantly left unfinished, and if the child is also struggling in other areas, it may be helpful to see a professional.
Does doodling improve memory?
Some small studies have suggested that simple doodling during a boring listening task may help recall a little. However, the results are not consistent, and it cannot be said to apply to everyone. Complex drawings, on the other hand, can divide attention.
Is there a difference between doodling and mandala colouring?
Doodling is usually spontaneous and accompanies another activity. Mandala colouring, on the other hand, is usually done in time deliberately set aside for it, on a ready-made pattern. Both can be relaxing for some people, but neither is a substitute for therapy.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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