Improve your memory and reduce stress by doodling

Have you ever watched someone doodling while they were in a meeting or on the phone and thought that they weren't paying attention?

I was reading Dr Dave Hnida's blog and came across his post about a study from the journal, Applied Cognitive Psychology, that found doodling may improve concentration.

He wrote, "People who daydreamed during boring meetings, classes and phone conversations, actually retained less of what was going on around them."

Doodling may also have an added benefit of being a stress-beater. It was also suggested that doodlers tend to be more organized than day-dreamers.

Some famous doodlers include US Presidents, John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. The only downside might come from leaving one's doodles in a place where others can see them.

Dr Hnida concludes, "...doodles...offer insight into personalities; some of the most common doodles include circles which indicate self-protection; arrows show a strong personal drive; and boxes reveal the mind of a logical organized person."

So the next time you feel like doodling during a meeting or phone call, don't hold back! It may be just the thing to remember a key point and in turn help you regain Calm from Chaos.

Find doodle interpretations take a look at Dr. Dave Hnida's blog.

Are You Too Distracted to Pay Attention?

We all do it. Rush around madly trying to finish something in a hurry.

I have a home office, so for me, it is often the last minute tidying before an important meeting with a client, or before visitors arrive. In this haste, I often just throw things into a room, to get them out of public view. It doesn't matter how important these items are - I am in a hurry and just do the "dump and run."

Nothing wrong with that - it gets the job done, but, because I am distracted - thinking about what is happening next, I do not focus or pay attention to what I am doing, where I am putting things. Then, I have trouble finding what I moved in haste. What was obvious is now hidden and no amount of retracing my steps will assist me to find the missing items...

And so it goes on....

Does this happen to you? Does distraction prevent you from paying attention to essential details and information?

Try to be present with each task as you complete it. Try giving your undivided attention to what you are doing in the moment...

This will increase your feeling of being organised, in control and on top of things, as well as giving greater calmness and order to everything you do, allowing you to savour every moment.