"Hello, my name's Emily, and I doodle in class."
It seems like more often than not I find myself loosing focus in class. Maybe I'm tired that day, or the material is not interesting, or that it's in my nature to drift off in 1 & 1/2, 2, or even 3 hour classes. Although we college students are many times portrayed as worry-less party kids, the truth is that we work hard, and getting through multiple classes a day takes a lot of concentration.
It's taken me a while, but I've finally found a solution for stimulating my mind when it is determined to shut down: drawing. All too often, doodling in class is seen as an activity that people do when they are bored, or not paying attention. Sometimes people might view it as disrespectful, and inconsiderate to the professor, but the truth is that it can actually help you pay attention! Although there are times that doodling is definitely not productive, when done right drawing in class actually focuses my attention and wakes up my mind.
I've taken a look at my notes and analyzed what types of doodling have most helped me focus and participate in class. Here are a few Do's and Don'ts that I've put together in order to help you doodle more productively if you're a chronic class-doodler like me!
Do's
The key is to draw something tough enough to wake up your mind, and simple enough that you are not processing how or what to draw, but instead the information that you are hearing, reading, and responding to.
1. Draw basic shapes.
Drawing shapes like circles, triangles and stars do not take a lot of effort but still involve a certain level of attention. Combining multiple shapes can be interesting and help make your brain start thinking again.
2. Draw a single type of thing.
For me, one thing that is easy to draw is a balloon. They have a basic shape that can be repeated over and over again. The idea of them drifting is relaxing, and you can add as much or as little shading as you want. You do not have to think about what to draw next, you can just keep making balloons!
3. Draw mandalas!
**This is more advanced** Mandalas are beautiful, but if you don't draw very much then you probably should not start with these. However, if you are like me, many times basic doodling is not enough. Simple shapes get boring, my eyes start to get heavy, my brain fizzles out, and there I go, completely out of it. Drawing mandalas definitely stimulates my brain and gets me thinking hard. However, with these you have to be careful. Not only could they take up too much focus, they also look like you aren't paying any attention to the class. Because of this, when doodling mandalas in class, remember to participate often, letting the teacher know you are paying just as much attention as everyone else (and showing off your multi-tasking skills!)
Don'ts
Some things are just not productive to draw. They don't help you pay attention, and thus they simply aren't worth doing.
1. No random scribbles.
They just don't do anything! In fact, they might actually be encouraging my mind to rot into mush. They don't stimulate your brain, they feed into your boredom, and that doesn't help anyone!
2. No "font practice."
I fall into this trap just as much as the next person. I know, it's a little embarrassing but I'm willing to put my ego on the line to say DON'T DO IT. Don't doodle your name, don't doodle words at all, they distract from hearing the words floating around the classroom. The only thing worse than doodling your name is doodling someone else's (and you know what I mean.)
3. If it could have a story, just say no.
I love drawing eyes, and people, and things that have the potential to say something. But class is not the place to do it. As soon as you start to think more intensely about the story of what you're drawing, your focus completely leaves the classroom. These drawings make you think: are they sad, happy, attractive, distant or relatable? If it can have a story, I'm sure it would be lovely, but save it for another time.
One last thing...
Don't forget that your mind is unique to only you! Some things will work, and others won't. Once you find a rhythm, go with it, if it ends up with you learning more and creating art what more could you ask for?!?
