Doodle every day: 5 reasons to make it a habit
What's the story
Incorporating a daily five-minute doodling habit can be an effective way to unlock creativity. The best part? This simple practice requires minimal time and resources, yet can significantly enhance your creative thinking and problem-solving skills. By engaging in doodling, you can stimulate your mind, improve focus and explore new ideas without the pressure of producing perfect artwork. Here's how this habit can foster creativity.
Brain boost
Boosts brain activity
Doodling activates multiple areas of the brain at once. By engaging both the logical left hemisphere and the creative right hemisphere, it promotes better cognitive function. This dual activation helps in processing information better and retaining it longer. Studies even suggest that people who doodle while listening to information retain up to 29% more than those who don't.
Focus aid
Enhances focus and concentration
Contrary to popular belief, doodling can actually improve concentration levels. When stuck in a monotonous task or long meeting, doodling gives a much-needed mental break that prevents daydreaming or zoning out. It lets the mind wander constructively while the attention remains on the primary task at hand.
Free flow
Encourages free thinking
Doodling also promotes free thinking by letting thoughts flow without restrictions. This unstructured way of expression allows you to explore ideas without the fear of being judged or failing. This way, it promotes innovation by opening new pathways for thought processes that would otherwise remain untapped.
Stress relief
Reduces stress levels
Regular doodling sessions can greatly reduce stress levels by serving as an emotional and tension release outlet. The process of drawing patterns or shapes involves a repetitive motion that has a calming effect, similar to the soothing practices of yoga or deep breathing exercises. This activity not only distracts the mind from stressors but also helps achieve a meditative state, contributing to overall mental well-being.
Idea spark
Sparks new ideas
Doodling acts as a potent incubator for fresh ideas, adeptly linking random concepts visually on paper or screen. The technique often nudges people in the direction of unexpected solutions they wouldn't have imagined before. By commencing their session with a pen/stylus in hand, one can discover innovative routes and insights. Hence, making doodling an indispensable asset for brainstorming and problem-solving.