You Should Doodle Every Day: The Surprising Magic of Doodling

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Do you ever find yourself mindlessly drawing patterns or shapes while on the phone or in a meeting? Congratulations, you’re a doodler! Doodling, often dismissed as a mindless habit, may actually hold the key to unlocking your inner creativity and boosting your cognitive function.

Pinterest Pin image featuring the title of the article on whitespace bordered by colourful doodle art.

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Do you doodle?

Scribble, etch, scrawl, or graffiti? If you’re not a doodler, you may want to consider giving it a try.

Doodling has been around since we lived in caves. It can be spontaneous and instinctive or structured and deliberate, reflecting our innate need to express creativity.

Either way, doodling is a valuable creative outlet with many benefits to our mental well-being. It has evolved into various forms over the centuries with different names and techniques. You’ll find one listed below that’s just right for you. And you can watch a video of a super easy Zentangle-inspired marker doodle I created.

Example of a flower-inspired Mandala Doodle created with black marker and highlighted with blue, coral and green watercolour markers. — My first attempt at Mandal Doodling with watercolour markers.

What Is Doodling

Doodles are simple drawings involving patterns, shapes, or abstract designs.

You can doodle absentmindedly while your attention is occupied in boring work meetings, or on purpose as a mindful activity for personal growth.

Types of Doodling

Example of Zentangle Doodling featuring a floral design, swirls, and a glowing sun. — My second attempt at Zentangle Doodling.

Doodling is personal and unique to each of us. I’ve listed five types of doodling below, each having its own appeal:

Mandalas. Circular and symmetrical patterns, often with intricate details.
Zentangle. Freestyle doodling, involving creating abstract intricate patterns within defined spaces, often done with black marker on white paper. You can learn all about Zentangle and how to do it at Zentangle.com.
Zendoodling. Detailed doodling focused on repeating patterns within a structured design, such as lines and dots inside a heart shape.
Stendoodling. Doodling using stencils.
Doodle Art. Any other doodling that doesn’t fall under one of the above categories.

Why Doodling is So Great

Heart shape filled in with repeating patterns divided in various segments. — One of my Zendoodles, in the shape of a heart.

Once considered a distraction, doodling is now known to support creative expression, relaxation, cognitive processes, and mindful living. So, if you’re into mindful living or on a creative journey, you may want to take up doodling as a regular habit.

The materials required for doodling – paper and pencil – are cheap and you don’t need artistic talent or skill. There is no pressure to create polished work.

Here’s what else makes doodling so great:

It may help improve your memory. Some studies show that doodling while listening to, for example, a lecture or a podcast can reinforce learning and help with memory retention, making it easier to recall information later.
It helps reduce stress. The repetitive motions of doodling can have a calming effect on the nervous system. Just a few minutes of doodling can help you relax and release some tension.
It can help you concentrate. Doodling can help you pay attention during monotonous activities, like sitting in on budget meetings or training sessions.
It can spark your creativity. Doodling involves both hemispheres of our brain, stimulating creative thinking, problem-solving, and idea generation.
It’s a mindful activity. Feeling the pencil on the paper, observing the lines and shapes as you create them, focusing on the present moment. Doodling can foster a sense of mindfulness and even induce a meditative state.

How to Doodle

Stendoodle of a sun shape filled in with various patterns. — My first try using stencils to doodle for a little Stendoodling.

So how does one doodle? Pick up a pen, pencil, or marker and start making connecting lines and shapes on paper. That’s it; draw without thinking about the outcome.

Be present in the moment by focusing on your breath.

Doodle for Mindfulness

The age-old practice of doodling is more than just idle scribbles on paper; it’s a doorway to many mental and emotional benefits.

From the structured precision of mandalas to the free-flowing nature of zendoodling, doodling offers a canvas for creative expression that is personal and unique to each of us.

Colourful doodles, scribbles and spirals in a sketchbook with a few pencil crayons nearby — Example of doodle art.

Doodling is a mindfulness activity, encouraging us to be present in the moment and observe the beautiful flow of lines and shapes as they emerge.

With all the beneficial things that doodling can do for us, we should all create doodles as part of our daily mindfulness routine.

Whether you’re seeking to enhance your cognitive abilities, alleviate stress, or indulge in a moment of creative expression, the impacts of daily doodling may surprise you.

So, get comfortable, take a deep breath and let your pen go.

Happy doodling!

Watch the Video

Easy marker doodle you can do.

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