I knew there was a reason I did this!

This is a blog post from Real Simple Magazine. It totally confirms my theory in high school! I was in Theology class one day (catholic school enough said) when the teacher asked me to put my pen down and pay attention. I knew the teacher pretty well otherwise I probably would have done what she asked but instead I responded with a "but it helps me concentrate!" She bought it and my doodling career flurshed through the rest of high school an college. At that point in time I think I just said it because I didn't want to stop doodling and the class was extremely boring but I think ask my education progressed I started to believe it.

meg

Want To Improve Your Concentration? Doodle!

Posted: 20 Jul 2009 06:48 AM PDT

While there was a compelling andimportant article in The New York Timesthis past weekend about the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone (or text messaging, for that matter), there is one bit of multitasking that actually canhelp you concentrate (although NOT while driving either): doodling!

As anyone who has whiled away a meeting making concentric circles, smiley faces, or loopy flowers can attest, sometimes the idle drawing can be a real boon to your ability to focus on the matter at hand, as well as retain the information, too. Of course, it doesn't always look this way to the outside viewer—and I am sure many a teacher has told a student to quit the doodling and pay attention.

But according to a study earlier this year, reported in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, doodlers retained 29 percent more information than those whose pens or pencils weren't busy. (The doodlers were told to listen to a two-minute-long taped message with a lot of detail in it; later they were quizzed on what they could recall.)

The key, researchers suspect, is that the doodling was idle enough to not distract from the primary task, but also reduced day-dreaming, mind-wandering, or anything else that could have truly hampered attention to the details.

This is welcome news for me, I must say! As a lifelong doodler myself, I've always maintained that having that small outlet in my right hand mysteriously let my brain truly plug into whatever I was listening to, even more than if I was not scritch-scratching away with one hand. I recall that nearly every single spiral notebook I had in high school and college was covered with teeny, tiny ball-point pen circles (like a swarm of air bubbles)—a process of covering every inch of blank space that took months of hard "work."

And to this day, I still have a hard time sitting down for a reading, a lecture, or a talk without simultaneously (or subconsciously) reaching for a pen and scrap of paper to be able to engage in some silly doodles along the way.

Are you a doodler? In what situations? What do you doodle most often—hearts, faces, flowers, your very own name? For some fun withdoodle analysis, check this out.

Photo from Flickr (not my own drawing, alas!)

Paint color personality quiz

I took this personality quiz on, sierraclubgreenhome.com out of curiosity of what kind of colors it would recommend and this is what it told me. I have to say I agree. :-)

Your scores are Vata: 4 Pitta: 5 Kapha: 1
Based on your results, you are a PITTA-VATA:

Pitta is the principle of transformation represented in our digestion of ideas, sensory experiences, emotions, and food. It is associated with the Fire element. People with a predominance of Pitta in their nature tend to be muscular, smart, and determined. If balanced, a Pitta is warm, intelligent, and a good leader. If out of balance, Pitta can make us critical, irritable, and aggressive.

Pitta Characteristics
Mind: Sharp, intellectual, direct, precise, discerning
Body: Medium build, warm, muscular
Skin: Sensitive, flush, acne-prone
Hair: Tendency towards early graying or thinning
Appetite: Strong, can eat just about anything, anytime
Routine: Very precise and organized
Temperament: Passionate, driven, courageous, strong sex drive, good leader
Conversation Style: Speaks to convey a point
Shopping Style: Spends on luxury items
Stress Response: Irritable, tendency to blame others.

Vata is the principle of movement and change. It can be identified as the Wind element. People with a predominance of Vata in their nature tend to be thin, light, and quick in our thoughts and actions. Change is a constant part of life. When Vata is balanced, they are creative, enthusiastic, and lively. But if Vata becomes excessive, they may develop anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, or irregular digestion.

Vata Characteristics
Mind: Creative, quick, imaginative
Body: Thin, light frame
Skin: Dry
Hair: Dry
Appetite: Delicate, spontaneous, often miss meals
Routine: Variable, spontaneous
Temperament: Welcomes new experiences, excitable, friendly, energetic
Conversation Style: Loves to talk!!
Shopping Style: Buy, buy, buy.
Stress Response: What did I do wrong? Tendency to blame oneself

Now paint color recommendations. For the ones they show on the website I do agree with liking the Vata Pitta colors.

Meh, Who knows.

Cheers!

Meg