Doodling For Relaxation

Coloring books for adults are all the rage these days. But I'd like to challenge you to go a little further, making some art of your own with some doodling. Doodling means to scribble absentmindedly, or to make a rough drawing in the same way. It's kind of hard to tell where doodling morphs into drawing or sketching, but that's kind of beside the point. What's important is that you simply put your hand to the paper (with a pencil, pen, or crayon in it of course) and begin. No fair judging yourself. This isn't a contest or comparison. It's just fun. It's just relaxing. And sometimes it takes on a life of its own.

Or you might even imagine something that you like, picturing it in your mind's eye - like old run-down buildings, trees, or even your favorite coffee cup. You can also start with a basic shape - circle, square, triangle... then build more lines or swirly designs around it. These are just a few ideas. There's really no limit on the styles of doodling. And there are no limits to your imagination, in spite of what someone may have led you to believe once upon a time. It - your creative imagination - just needs to get unlocked, and doodling is the best place I know to get started.

Another way to approach doodling is if you like computers. Included with this article is a sample of a "digital doodle" I did a couple of years ago when I finally got bold enough to install a simple Paintbrush function on my Macbook. I was hooked from the start. It was easy to doodle away while listening to music or a talk show, or some recording on You Tube.

What's been discovered is that doodling actually increases attentiveness and the ability to retain information. So, in my opinion kids should never be told not to doodle (or adults either) when listening to lectures. A relaxed mind is mind that is receptive to information. So I find that it's easy to listen and learn while doodling. The body also relaxes in my experience. Focus develops, as it can be absolutely fascinating as you discover what you can come up with. So doodling may be a far better way to unwind in the evening for better sleep. And it's certainly far better than mindless television "programming"!

Starting small may be a good idea. Plain 3x5 cards are nice for that, or some simple paper without lines - 5.75 x 9 inch plain letter writing paper works well too. Anything that's handy.

Go ahead. Surprise yourself...

I'd be interested to know about your experiences with doodling. So feel free to contact me. I'd love to hear from you.