Doodling

Doodling is the act of making spontaneous, often unconscious, marks, drawings, or patterns while one's attention is otherwise occupied. This usually involves using pen or pencil on paper, but can extend to digital devices and other surfaces. doodling can take many forms, from simple geometric shapes and repeated patterns to representational sketches and cartoon-like figures. The purpose of doodling is frequently debated, but it's often associated with improved focus, creative thinking, memory retention, and stress relief. While it is generally considered a mindless activity, it can inadvertently lead to original ideas or solutions. The visual aspect can be a form of note-taking and can stimulate thought and memory.

Doodling meaning with examples

• During the lengthy conference call, Sarah found herself doodling geometric shapes in the margins of her notebook, a habit that helped her stay focused and absorb the information despite its monotony. She later realized that these doodles inadvertently helped her visualize the connections between concepts and later, in the meeting minutes, she incorporated them into a mind map.
• Lost in thought, Mark absentmindedly doodled fantastical creatures on a napkin while waiting for his date. The intricate details that emerged, a dragon with mechanical wings and a unicorn with circuitry horns, surprised even him and eventually inspired him to write a short sci-fi story featuring the hybrid mythical beasts.
• The student, restless during the history lecture, doodled caricatures of the professor in her textbook. Surprisingly, the visual representation of the teacher's mannerisms helped her to recall the lecture content better than her traditionally taken notes. The funny doodles helped her remember key historical dates.
• Feeling stressed about her upcoming presentation, Emily began doodling swirling patterns on a sticky note. The rhythmic motion and the act of creating something, however trivial, had a calming effect, allowing her to refocus and reduce her anxiety. The creative act brought her peace, and she presented successfully.
• As a child, Michael would doodle elaborate maps and imaginary cities on any surface. The intricate process fueled his creative mind, and later, he found a successful career designing city infrastructures and urban plans. His childhood doodles helped him become an architect.