I Knew It!

Many of my teachers have disagreed with me, but I've always known I listen better when I can do something with my hands and doodle or fidget. Now research backs me up.

Doodling on a piece of paper while listening to a boring lecture or phone conversation actually helps concentration and can make facts easier to recall, British researchers said Friday.

It's generally thought scribbling indicates daydreaming, but a study published Friday in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology says doodling may actually decrease those wandering thoughts and help focus the mind. . . .