There’s a surprisingly simple research-backed solution that can help employees reduce stress, open their minds, and increase productivity.
That solution? Doodling at work.
“While it might seem counterintuitive to encourage employees to pick up a pen and start drawing during work hours, the science behind doodling is compelling,” says Jessie Brooks, product manager at Davincified, a premium online platform offering custom paint-by-numbers kits. “When you’re doodling, you’re typically not creating masterpieces, but rather giving the brain permission to wander and make connections in ways that structured work simply doesn’t allow.”
The science behind doodling at work
Far from being a distraction, doodling activates multiple regions of the brain simultaneously, creating neural pathways that enhance cognitive function. Groundbreaking research from Drexel University, utilizing brain scans, has shown the transformative impact of art activities such as doodling on mental performance.
The study revealed that doodling not only improves mood but also activates neural reward circuits that lead to heightened problem-solving abilities. Of various artistic expressions examined, free-form doodling emerged as particularly beneficial, offering cognitive advantages that extend well beyond a few scribbles on paper.
“What makes doodling so powerful is that it liberates people from self-judgment,” explains Brooks. “When employees doodle, original ideas can flow unfiltered. There’s no pressure to produce something ‘good’ or ‘correct,’ which paradoxically makes it easier to enter those flow states where real innovation happens.”
How doodling boosts workplace performance
The cognitive benefits of doodling translate directly into improved workplace performance. Jessie highlights several key areas:
1. Improved focus and concentration: It might sound counterintuitive, but doodling actually helps maintain attention during lengthy meetings or complex tasks. The physical act of drawing keeps the mind engaged without overwhelming it, preventing the kind of mental drift that leads to missed information or lost productivity.
2. Enhanced memory retention: Research shows that people who doodle while receiving information retain significantly more of what they hear compared to those who sit passively. The act of doodling creates additional neural connections that help cement information in memory.
3. Boosted creative thinking: When employees doodle, they access different parts of their brain than those used for analytical thinking. This cross-activation encourages unexpected connections and novel solutions to problems that may not be possible with rigid, structured thinking.
“The traditional workplace has often prioritized focus and consistency, which can actually stifle broader-mindedness,” notes Brooks. “Today’s successful companies recognize the value of tapping into their entire brain trust. They appreciate meandering minds as much as mapped ones.”
Forward-thinking companies leading the way
Several organizations have already recognized doodling’s potential and integrated it into their work culture. Mondelez, the snack giant, has introduced whiteboard tables for spontaneous sketching during meetings, resulting in unexpected and innovative solutions. Australian media firm Ajentis has gone further, integrating whiteboard paint into their spaces and fostering regular collaborative doodling sessions that enrich their creative culture.
“These companies understand that structure and routine are necessary, but they have limits when it comes to nurturing long-term creativity,” says Brooks. “Doodling offers a liberating release that complements traditional work methods rather than replacing them.”
HR managers can start small by normalizing doodling in the workplace. Make doodle breaks as acceptable as coffee breaks, and provide simple materials like notepads and pens in meeting rooms, he says.
“Consider hosting regular one-hour maker spaces where employees can engage in unstructured visualization without judgment. These sessions don’t require artistic skill, since the goal is simply to enter generative mind states where connections to imagination and intuition deepen,” Brooks says. “You could also introduce monthly doodle challenges that invite employees to visualize solutions to workplace problems. You’re simply adding an artistic dimension to traditional brainstorming sessions.
“It’s all about focusing on the creative process itself, instead of only the outcome,” he adds. “When employees feel safe to explore ideas visually without fear of criticism, you’re reducing stress while also sowing the seeds of a more innovative and vibrant workplace culture.”
Photo credit: tirachardz/Freepik
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