Doodling

Doodling is spontaneous, repetitive drawing produced while a person’s attention is engaged in another activity, such as listening, talking, or thinking. It typically involves simple shapes, lines, and patterns, and may include figures or objects. Doodles are usually created with pencils or pens in margins or blank spaces and are not intended as finished artwork.

Doodling appears in many contexts, from classroom margins to office notebooks. Common forms include geometric patterns, abstract shapes, or recognizable icons. Some doodles are deliberate doodle-art styles, such as patterned motifs or meditative designs. People may doodle passively while distracted, or they may use deliberate doodling as a creative or cognitive exercise.

Cognitive research has examined doodling’s effects on attention, memory, and creativity. Some studies report that doodling can improve recall of incidental information and reduce boredom, while others show limited or no impact on core task performance. Individual differences are important; for some learners, doodling may provide visual anchors or help manage cognitive load, while for others it may be a distraction.

In educational and workplace settings, doodling is often viewed as a low-pressure activity that can support engagement and ideation. Practical guidance includes keeping writing tools accessible, avoiding judgment of the doodles, and using doodling as a strategy to organize thoughts through symbols, patterns, or quick sketches.