Have you ever caught yourself doodling in a meeting and felt a little embarrassed about it, like your brain was checking out?
In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson makes the case for doodling as a legitimate nervous system tool, not a distraction, but a body-based practice backed by real science. She breaks down the "10 Ps" of doodling, showing how something as simple as a pen moving across paper can lower cortisol, boost dopamine, and shift your body from stress back into safety.
You'll learn why your nervous system needs bottom-up, non-verbal tools alongside talk-based healing, and how doodling builds focus, emotional release, presence, and playfulness without requiring any artistic skill at all.
- Doodling is a body-based practice that brings you into the present moment and regulates your nervous system in real time.
- It activates cognitive centers that support memory, focus, and comprehension, even when it looks like "checking out."
- Doodling offers a wordless outlet for emotion, letting stuck feelings move through the body instead of staying trapped.
- Regulation is a skill, not a trait, consistent doodling reinforces neural pathways tied to calm and clarity.
- Play and imperfection in doodling help release perfectionism and chronic hypervigilance.
- Doodling can act as a bridge between the emotional brain and the thinking brain after a stress response.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
The Art of Regulation: Doodle Your Nervous System Bundle (Physical journal, worldwide shipping, bonus content and bonus workshop): https://www.skool.com/doodle-your-nervous-system-5944/about
Advanced Training in Nervous System Resilience : https://leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/coach-training-join
COMMUNITY
MIDLIFE NERVOUS SYSTEM REWIRE COMMUNITY 👑: A low pressure, fun community for “Queenagers” to regulate, not fix, their midlife nervous systems.
Join here: https://www.skool.com/midlife-nervous-system-rewire/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1
MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:
1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care
Amazon US- https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj
2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET
Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4
3) WORRY TIME PAD :
Amazon US http://bit.ly/3QSvyv1
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