health +
Good for you Doodling ad for you
As class gets dull, you draw flowers, the head in front of you, your teacher, or trace words on a textbook. This mindless act, doodling, might actually improve your concentration.
When bored in class, you may daydream, which can distract you from class. Doodling, though, can reduce daydreaming and keep you concentrated, according to a recent study conducted by Jackie Andrade, researcher at the University of Plymouth in southern England. The study suggests people perform a task better when they don't daydream, and doodling itself is less distracting than daydreaming. Simple visual tasks, such as doodling, also block mental imagery that is unrelated to the task, says Andrade, who studies cognitive psychology.
Twiddling a pen might have a similar effect in reducing daydreaming, Andrade says, though text messaging does not help people pay attention because texting involves verbal processing.
Regardless of her study, Andrade suggests trying another way to concentrate on class.
Photo Illustration by Sachiko Miyakawa Doodling the day away: Mindless doodling can actually help you play attention in class as compared with spacing off.
"Find ways to make it interesting," she says. "Think how it links with material from other modules, or with real-life situations. Doodling is a last resort."
VERDICT: GOOD FOR YOU
— Sachiko Miyakawa
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April 30,2009
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