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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.)"

7 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. 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:~#
  2. 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.
  3. 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!

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

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

    Hmm hmm hmm. I'm sorry, what?

  6. 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.