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Concentrate Better By Doodling

Posted by timothy on from the la-la-la-la-shiny dept.

Kelson writes "The next time you see someone doodling during a meeting, don't criticize them for drifting off. It turns out that doodling is the mind's way of keeping itself just busy enough to avoid checking out entirely and slipping off into a daydream, and doodlers actually remember more of that boring talk. (Judging by my college notes, this probably helped me remember a lot of otherwise-boring lectures.)"

14 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. I knew it. by stoolpigeon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just need to print a copy of the article and keep it with me. I've gotten into troubling quite a few times for doodling.

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  2. That's what I told my teachers... by Narnie · · Score: 5, Funny

    i doodled throughout school. I told my teachers that it was my way of staying awake and attentive. I'm glad somebody did the research to validate my BS.

    --
    greed@All_Evils:~#
  3. I have doodled for at least 30 years by revlayle · · Score: 3, Informative

    Pretty much in ever class that I remember since the 3-4th grade. All through college and every meeting I bring pad/pen to.

    In fact, my meeting notes, have WAY more random scribbles and weird drawings than actual notes.

  4. Silly Slashdot! by h4rm0ny · · Score: 3, Insightful


    We know doodling works for us. But people don't because they want to give the appearance of attention. The people who actually set doing work above the appearance of doing work have already found a way to not be in the meeting in the first place.

    --

    Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
  5. Someone tell gradeschool teachers by Walkingshark · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I understand things the first time I hear them in almost all cases. This has been true since childhood. As a direct result, the normal teaching style in most gradeschools (say something, then repeat it in slightly different ways many many times) was nearly unbearably boring for me. I would try and allieviate this boredom by doodling, and this often got me in trouble.

    I'd like to go back and find the fucking idiots who wouldn't just leave me alone and let me draw and show them this article.

    --
    The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
    1. Re:Someone tell gradeschool teachers by timster · · Score: 4, Funny

      Heck, as long as you're talking about the teaching in "most grade schools", I remember not only understanding the explanation the first time, but understanding what aspects of the teacher's explanation were inaccurate and often even how the explanation could be clarified so that the other students could grasp it properly.

      It goes without saying that I learned how to keep my mouth shut without even being presented with an explanation.

      --
      I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
    2. Re:Someone tell gradeschool teachers by TriezGamer · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is one of the major difficulties I had in college. I never learned to study properly in high school, and I also had difficulty adjusting to the concept of homework. In high school I managed to complete nearly everything in class because the teachers often gave time to do work in-class. Not so with college.

  6. I was going to write a reply by pwnies · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was going to write a long and well thought out reply that ended with me trailing off and it turning into ascii doodles, but apparently slashdot has an ascii art filter.

    "Filter error: Your comment looks too much like ascii art."

    Damnit /., I'm just trying to concentrate!

  7. Re:What works for me is being Drowsy by maxume · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Random internet theory: Those classes were easier.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  8. I was the doodling guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A few weeks ago I met my High School Philosophy teacher from around 20 years ago. I greeted him and he didn't remember me at first, then asked for a few more names from my promotion. He said "that was a good year, and then: "You are the doodling guy!".

    Yeah, I spent all his classes producing convoluted tesselations and stuff while I listened, then just read anything he proposed. He told me he was expecting a complete disaster at first but in fact I was one of the best students he'd ever had, neck to neck with another doodler a few years later.

  9. I watch TV while I work by omnichad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I work at home (telecommuter for 2 years now), and whenever I get stuck doing menial work, I turn on the TV. I have to watch sitcom drivel to keep it from being too engaging, but it keeps me on task, and keeps me from drifting off onto Slashdot...like I'm doing now. CRAP!

  10. Meetings are BS by El+Torico · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Most meetings are merely excuses to avoid working, so doodle away!

    --
    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
    1. Re:Meetings are BS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Reminds me of the poster that says:

      Are you lonely???

      Don't like working on your own?
      Hate making decisions?

      Then call a MEETING !!

      You can ...
      SEE people
      DRAW flowcharts
      FEEL important
      FORM subcommittees
      IMPRESS your colleagues
      MAKE meaningless recommendations

      ALL on COMPANY TIME!!!!

      MEETINGS
      The practical alternative to work.

  11. La la la by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 4, Funny

                            .--.
                      (\_/)/  _ \
                      (o.o) _(   |____
                     .- ".-`----'`"""")
                                  '--`

    Hmm hmm hmm. I'm sorry, what?