Doodling is a wonderful way to quiet your mind. While your hand is moving around the paper, your mind is focused on what is going on and you are oblivious to your surrounding. Five minutes of Doodling will relax you!
Doodling is a bit like handwriting and calligraphy: It’s meditative and helps your cognitive function.
Meditating VS doodling
Some people can sit quietly for a long time and meditate and other can’t.
There are many ways to quiet your mind. You can do meditative things that don’t rquire you to sit still.
Walking and swimming are meditative activities.
Doodling is an excellent meditative activity that also allows your creativity to come out and play.
Remember those stick figures you drew when you were little?
Use stick figures to tell your story, to describe someone or just for fun. Make them tall, make them small, make them run!
Color the stick figures and they will start to look like figures!
Doodle a few minutes a day and you will see how you will feel a lot more relaxed and who knows! this can be a new hobby!
About Doodling
There are no rules.
Doodling is great because there is no pressure attached to it.
It’s about drawing without thinking.
Draw shapes, lines, x’s, circles. Doodling is a mindless act.
Draw stick figures, funny people, strange trees and don’t worry about what it looks like. Just keep putting marks on the paper.
Doodling stick figures
If you do get into stick-figure drawing it could be a way to express a story.
I have started to draw little stick figures and to color them.
Coloring stick figures just keeps my mind focused for a few more minutes and I love playing with color pencils.
Doodle to remember
Many people use doodles to remember things.
I have seen people in conferences writing notes and adding a small doodle next to them. Some people only add doodles.
I met an artist that is hired to go to business conferences to doodle while someone is speaking.
Her doodles appear on a large screen up front and they keep people focused on the subject at hand.
Doodling and Creativity
Doodling is a creative way of expression.
Doodle every day for a week and see where your lines evolve into all sorts of shapes.
You may find yourself getting interested in drawing!
Or it can just be a way of venting.
Keep a doodle note book with you at all times. I used to carry a 4 x 6 inch notebook for that and now I carry around a larger one because some doodles have evolved into drawings!
10 things to know about doodling
- Doodling is about imperfection.
- Doodling can be done with a pen, pencil, brush, or crayon.
- Doodling is about having fun.
- Doodling is about experimentation.
- Doodling helps you unwind.
- Doodling helps you see what is around you.
- Doodling can help you listen better.
- You can doodle anywhere. Carry a small notebook and a pen with you at all times, and doodle when you feel irritated or bored, such as when you are tired of waiting for your doctor to see you or on public transportation.
- Doodles can be shapes, figures, mindless repetitive lines, or anything in front of you.
- There are no rules to doodling.
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Updated August 2025
FAQ Doodle: What are doodles?
What is the difference between doodling and drawing?
A drawing is done with purpose.
A doodle is done without thinking.
Doodles are quick marks.
Doodle can be repetitive shapes.
You just let your hand go wherever it wants. You can doodle with a purpose but it will be with a lighter touch.
What supplies do I need of doodle?
You don’t need specific supplies.
Choose what do you like most: Pencils? Pens?
Get a doodle notebook or use lose sheets of paper. I have a notebook that I take with me all the time.
Is doodling a type of mindfulness?
Yes! Doodling is mindfulness, because it’s a meditative activity.
What do you call someone who doodles?
Doodle artist.
Doodler.
An amazing person! 🙂
Is doodle considered art?
I consider doodle an art.
Do you remember Keith Haring?
I know many would not consider Keith Haring’s are doodle, but they remind me of doodle.
Doodle are art!
