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Doodling is the act of drawing, sketching, or scribbling without a final goal or product in mind. It is unique to each individual drawer, so there are no guidelines around what a doodle should look like. What you choose to doodle depends on what you’re comfortable and familiar with—but there’s no wrong way to do it!
Stress is toxic, and doodling can help mitigate its negative effects. The rhythmic and repetitive motion of drawing elicits what Harvard cardiologist Herbert Benson identified as the relaxation response. By synchronizing the hand and eye—thereby allowing the coordination of body and mind—doodling can become a calming and meditative experience.
Research shows that much like other visually creative activities like coloring in or doing collages, doodling can help you unwind. It's thought to calm the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls the 'flight or fight' response—which is linked to stress and anxiety. The repetitive motion of moving the pen across the page making the same shape over and over is thought to lull you into a calm state. It also eliminates the fear of making a 'mistake' when doodling, as you're simply drawing a continuous line and coloring in when the mood strikes.
