Have you heard the news? Doodling reduces anxiety and stress.
This year’s book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transforms Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross makes the point that small children draw, dance and vocalize to learn, changing brain connections as they go. In their book these authors lead us through the science of the brain to explain why adults need to reincorporate similar artful activities into their daily life. Here is one fun point they made: Researchers observed that the hormone cortisol, an indicator of stress levels, is reduced when test subjects doodled for 20 minutes. Other simple activities that children engage in showed similar results. In interviews Susan and Ivy emphasize the practice of doodling each day. Maybe they saw it as the most accessible activity, but I think they just liked to say the word doodle.
Don’t think that I am going to talk science
I love science! I am a retired nurse educator as well as an artist, but my purpose here is to get you to doodle, not to give you a science lecture. If you want to understand the science and I encourage you to do so, read the book, they use everyday language; look at the author’s website: https://www.yourbrainonart.com ; put Susan and Ivy’s full names in a search engine. You will be convinced that it is a good idea to doodle each day.
Doodlng is
Using a mark making tool to put a mark on a surface without an intention of making something. So, in it’s simplest form put pencil to paper and move the pencil. Scribble your heart out. There are so much more that can be added to this act; different pens, markers or pencils, perhaps even a feather. Use a journal, make a special kit or just grab anything at hand. I sometimes use the inside of envelopes that have a pattern to get started.
Doodle when?
In the morning while drinking your coffee or sitting under a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) light. Sing or hum when you doodle. These activities have proven to bring down cortisol levels too. Double your reward! At night before you go to bed is another good time as sleep experts extoll us to give up our electronic devices an hour before bed. I have crayons on my bedside table and a clipboard with plenty of paper handy for this purpose. Crayons are great because they don’t leave marks on your sheets.
Doodle overload?
Okay, just in case you think I too am so endeared with the word doodle that I can’t tell you the rest of the story, here it is. Humming; singing, dancing, and expressive writing are some other activities that work just as well as doodling.
Ivy and Susan are making the general public aware of the science of neuroasthetics and predicts that this is an emerging healthcare field . One that will take its place beside exercise, nutritions and sleep. So here is an invitation to hone the skills you started in kindergarten, praticing them are good for you.