Why Do People Doodle During Meetings?

Last Updated Nov 23, 2025
Why Do People Doodle During Meetings?

People doodle during meetings as a way to maintain focus and process information when their attention drifts. This subtle motor activity helps reduce stress and mental fatigue by engaging the brain in a low-demand task. Doodling also supports memory retention by creating visual connections to the spoken content, enhancing comprehension and recall.

To Improve Focus

Doodling during meetings helps improve focus by keeping the brain engaged without overwhelming it. This subtle motor activity prevents the mind from wandering and enhances attention to spoken information.

Studies show that individuals who doodle recall 29% more information than those who do not. The act of doodling creates a cognitive anchor, aiding memory retention and concentration during lengthy discussions.

To Reduce Stress

Doodling during meetings serves as a subtle stress relief mechanism for many individuals. It provides a mental outlet that helps manage anxiety and maintain calmness.

Engaging in simple drawing activities allows the brain to process information while simultaneously reducing tension. Stress triggers can cause distraction, but doodling helps redirect nervous energy into a creative task. This habit supports emotional regulation, promoting a more focused and relaxed mindset throughout the meeting.

To Combat Boredom

Doodling during meetings often serves as a mental strategy to combat boredom. When attention wanes, simple drawing activities help maintain engagement without disrupting the flow of the meeting.

This subtle form of visual expression stimulates the brain, keeping it active and preventing mind wandering. As a result, doodling can enhance information retention by providing a creative outlet during otherwise monotonous discussions.

To Aid Memory Retention

Reason Explanation
To Aid Memory Retention Doodling helps anchor attention and enhances recall by engaging the brain's visual and motor pathways, creating additional memory cues during meetings.
Improved Focus Light doodling prevents the mind from wandering by maintaining a low level of cognitive activity, which supports sustained concentration.
Processing Information Doodling allows the brain to process complex ideas more effectively by translating verbal information into simple visuals or patterns.
Reduction of Anxiety Engaging in doodling reduces stress and nervous energy, creating a calmer mental state that favors better memory encoding.
Enhanced Creativity Doodling stimulates creative thinking, which can lead to better problem-solving and retention of discussed concepts.

To Express Creativity

Doodling during meetings often serves as a subtle outlet for creative expression. It allows individuals to engage their imagination while remaining attentive to the discussion.

  • Stimulates Visual Thinking - Doodling activates the brain's visual centers, encouraging creative problem-solving and idea generation.
  • Reduces Mental Fatigue - Engaging in doodling can alleviate boredom and enhance focus by providing a creative distraction.
  • Enhances Memory Retention - Drawing spontaneous images helps reinforce information processing and recall during meetings.

To Process Information

People doodle during meetings as a way to process information more effectively. This habit helps maintain focus by engaging the brain in a light, repetitive task, which prevents distraction. Doodling enhances memory retention by creating additional visual stimuli linked to the discussed content.

To Prevent Daydreaming

Doodling during meetings helps prevent daydreaming by keeping the brain engaged with a simple, repetitive task. This minor cognitive activity maintains a baseline level of attention, reducing the likelihood of the mind wandering. As a result, individuals can better retain information and stay focused on the discussion.

To Manage Anxiety

People often doodle during meetings as a subconscious strategy to manage anxiety. This simple act helps them maintain focus while coping with nervous energy.

  • Stress Reduction - Doodling provides a calming effect that reduces feelings of anxiety during stressful conversations.
  • Distraction Management - It serves as a minor distraction that prevents overwhelming negative thoughts from taking over.
  • Emotional Regulation - Engaging in doodling helps regulate emotions, making it easier to stay composed.

By managing anxiety through doodling, individuals can improve their concentration and participation in meetings.

To Fill Idle Time

Why do people doodle during meetings to fill idle time? Doodling helps occupy the mind during moments of inactivity, preventing boredom. It keeps the brain engaged when the discussion slows or pauses.



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The information provided in this document is for general informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be complete. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we cannot guarantee that the details mentioned are up-to-date or applicable to all scenarios. Topics about why do people doodle during meetings are subject to change from time to time.

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