Next time your boss says, Don't doodle! Tell him you are focussing on the task at hand

New research suggests that the flowers you scribble on the side of notes at a boring meeting, are actually the sign of an alert mind. iTALK tells you why you better doodle, and what that scribble says about you

New research suggests that the flowers you scribble on the side of notes at a boring meeting, are actually the sign of an alert mind. iTALK tells you why you better doodle, and what that scribble says about youu00a0

There! I told you so, is perhaps what you'd want to tell that stern standard 6 Math teacher who refused to let you doodle on the sides of your exercise book. Contrary to popular perception, new research from the University of Plymouth says that although doodling may look messy, it could be a sign of an alert mind, and it helps boost memory.

Doodlers performed 29% better than non-doodlers and it stopped people from daydreaming, helping them to focus on mundane tasks, the study revealed. Daydreaming is counter productive since it distracts you from the task at hand, resulting in poor performance. Doodling on the other hand, is a simple task and can prevent you from daydreaming.

Dr Harish Shetty, Psychiatrist with Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital says, "Doodling acts as a parallel activity that can help the mind focus on the task at hand. For some people, it is music that does the trick. But it may not work for everyone, since it could get distracting." It's a natural process, an unconscious habit that releases tension and enhances the brain's capacity to focus on priorities.

When do people doodle?
Most doodles are made during lectures or meetings. They are a form of picture language that inspire your creativity, making you view things differently. It reflects your temperament and is an expression of the subconscious mind.

Boredom is one of the main reasons for most of us to doodle. Scientists claim evolution never intended humans to sit around doing nothing. So, the human mind needs to be constantly engaged in some productive action. So, we end up doodling when we are forced to stay
inactive.

How the famous doodle
>>X-Files actor David Duchovny doodles diagonal lines and squiggles.
>>Hollywood actor Robin Williams doodles a head with dots for the eyes and a straight line for the mouth.
>>Celeb talk show host Ellen DeGeneres draws human faces in varying sizes, all with intrusive eyes.
>>Hollywood hottie Scarlett Johansson loves to draw long-eared dogs sleeping on cushions.
>>Ex US President Bill Clinton used to doodle during meetings at the White House and they have been preserved.

6 quick ways to decipher your doodles
>>Arrows indicate a person who is aggressively ambitious.
>>Stacked boxes indicate methodical thinking while closed boxes signify self-centredness and a need
for privacy.
>>Doodles of cats need to be examined carefully. The nature of the cat (playful or calm) indicates the meaning.
>>Dots forming a pattern or picture are doodles of a fragmented personality,
and reflect anxiety.
>>Eyes indicate a desire to be alluring.
>>Houses show how the person feels about their home environment. An unhappy home could be represented by asymmetrical structures without windows.

Doodling is positive outlet for suppressed emotions

Mansi Doshi Graphology Consultant
The act of doodling reflects the unconscious mind. It is a small part of Graphology (the analysis of handwriting)u00a0 and reveals a lot about the person. As human beings, we are on autopilot and work without reflecting on our fears, defenses and aptitudes. Your doodles reflect your personality and mood. It is a positive outlet for emotions.

Her doodles turn into art
Artist Dhruvi Acharya maintains a personal dairy where she doodles (instead of writing) and refers to it before conceiving a new art collection. Some of them are mindless, she admits, but sometimes, one of them could turn into a painting.

Doodling and drawing are synonymous, says the Mumbai-based artist who uses a technique that involves over 10 layers of paint; each acrylic work taking over a month to complete.u00a0

"I carry my book around and doodle, especially when I have to wait over a period of time. When a certain thing strikes me, I make a sketch; it could be a mere thought, an incident or a book I read," says Acharya. She started doodling while pursuing her studies in the US.

When do urban professionals doodle?

Lakshmipriya Nair Sub-editor with magazine
I used to doodle during boring college lectures. I drew everything from flowers and funny faces to abstract designs. I still doodle when on the phone.
Bunty Rohira Advertising andu00a0 Strategic Planning, Netcore Solutions
I doodle during meetings I'm expected to attend, but I consider irrelevant. I draw caricatures of people conducting the meeting.
Harshad Karmalkar Client Servicing Manager
I used to doodle during college lectures, and now at office meetings. I draw faces of people around me, logos of fancy cars, and scribble words.

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