9 Step-By-Step Note-Taking Doodles
Ever wondered how to doodle your way to better notes? You’re in the right place! In this post, we’ll explore nine fun and creative doodle tutorials that will transform your note-taking game.
Doodles aren’t just for passing time; they can actually help you retain information and make your notes more engaging. And the more engaging and visual your notes are, the better you’ll be able to or retain the information they contain.
These note-taking doodles will add a personal touch to your work and make studying a bit more enjoyable. Ready to get started with these step-by-step doodles? Let’s jump in and bring those notes to life!
Doodling isn’t just a whimsical activity; it’s a powerful tool for enhancing memory and comprehension. When you doodle, you engage multiple cognitive processes, which helps to anchor information in your brain.
Visual and kinesthetic learners, in particular, benefit immensely as doodling transforms abstract ideas into concrete visuals. Whether it’s colorful borders, quirky icons, or elaborate diagrams, incorporating doodles into your notes can make studying more interactive and less monotonous, ultimately improving your ability to recall information when you need it most.
These step-by-step tutorials are designed with beginners in mind, making doodling accessible to everyone—even if you think you lack artistic flair.
When I first started, I was in the same boat, unsure of my abilities and creativity. But through practice and simple techniques, I discovered that anyone can learn to doodle.
That’s why I’m passionate about sharing these tutorials; they’re crafted to help you start from zero, just like I did. So, even if you don’t see yourself as creative, these guides will help you unlock a new way to enhance your note-taking and express your unique style.
And be sure to check the end of the post because I also have a FREE course on doodling for beginners that will help you improve your skills further.
This post may contain affiliate links. They will be of no extra expense for you, but I receive a small credit. Please see my Disclosure for more details. Thank you for supporting Masha Plans!
Stationery Recommendations
For doodling, you’ll need some supplies, and I’ve got you covered with my top recommendations. Plus, pretty much all of them can work as note-taking supplies as well,
Of course, you can start doodling with whatever you already have, be it a pencil or your kid’s old school pens. But we all know that having better tools can help you do better and motivate you to keep on practicing your skills and level up your school notes.
So, when we’re talking about doodling for your study notes, here are a few supplies I’m sure you’ll find indispensable:
- Pencil & eraser. For the pencil, I really recommend getting the one with a comfortable grip since you’ll probably spend a lot of time using it. My top choice is the Pilot Dr. Grip pencil. And for an eraser, get something that won’t leave any traces behind, like this Sakura Foam Eraser.
- Fineliners. These are wonderful for doodling and note taking. The black lines are perfect to outline your doodles, and the pen thickness variety will definitely allow you to make your doodles stand out even more. My choice for these are Sakura Pigma Micron.
- Markers. If color is your thing, you’ll want some markers, and I recommend Crayola Super Tips, since they come in so many colors and are pretty affordable. But I also really love Tombow Twin Tone and Zebra Mildliners for the special colors they offer.
- Colorful Pens. Another option if you want your doodles to be colorful. Tons of different pens you can use, but I would recommend Staedtler Triplus Fineliners or Sakura Gelly Roll, the latter being also amazing for working on black paper.
Now that you have all your supplies ready, it’s time to learn a few doodles to add creativity to your study notes.
Step-By-Step Note-Taking Doodles
I don’t know what you think about when you think of note-taking doodles, and I guess, in many ways, it depends on what kind of notes we’re talking about.
Your history notes will probably need different types of doodles than your science notes, and each has plenty of different ideas to explore.
In this post, however, I wanted to keep it more generic and come up with a few doodles that would fit any notes. These are the doodles I often draw on my study notes, and I’m sure you’ll find them just as useful.
And if you think these doodles are just for school, they aren’t. You can create sketchnotes for anything including your meeting notes or book reviews. If you want to learn more about sketchnoting, be sure to check the link at the end of the post.
But let’s get doodling!
How To Doodle A Pencil
I started with a pretty basic doodle—a pencil. I think I use it in all of my notes and sketch notes.
It’s a classic doodle, easy to draw, and you can create variety using different colors.
How To Draw Alarm Clock
This, for me, is a symbol of school times since this was the only way to wake up in the time before the cellphones hahaha
But I also like using a doodle of an alarm clock for anything urgent or time-sensitive.
How To Draw A Planner
Thisd is one of my favorite doodels and you can play around so much with colors, shapes and decorations of your planner, or a Bullet Journal.
I always find space in my notes for this tiny doodel and I’m sure you’ll find it useful as well.
Cellphone Doodle
For me, a cellphone doodle is a symbol of communication, so I often add it to my notes, which are usually about something marketing-related.
I love that with this doodle, you can play around with what is displayed on the screen, making it fit any theme.
How To Doodle A Clipboard
A clipboard is a good symbol for note-taking or any business-related things. And if you make this doodle bigger, you can definitely just use it as a box for some special information you want highlighted.
It’s a great way to make your main points stand out.
How To Doodle Crayons
I think all the stationery doodles can be used in your notes, no matter what kind of notes you’re taking.
These crayons are easy to doodle in, and you can play around and make the colors fit your aesthetics.
How To Draw A Calculator
The calculator is a perfect symbol for anything math-related and about finances.
Thankfully, this is also a very easy doodle to draw, so it can help you add visual variety to all the numbers in your notes.
How To Doodle A Table Lamp
I see lamps in so many sketchnote projects, and I use this doodle a lot as well.
You can definitely use it to draw attention to something, and you can play around a lot with the shape and color of the doodle to make it fit your style.
How To Draw Books
Last but not least are the doodles of books. Books, of course, can fit notes for any type of project.
They are very easy to doodle, and You can play around with the thickness of the books and the different decorative elements on the book spines.
And just like that, you’ve got yourself nine step-by-step doodle tutorials for simple little doodles that you can use to add visual elements to your notes.
Free Doodling Course
If you’re just starting on your doodling adventures, you might feel a bit lost and on a lookout for some directions.
I’ve been there! I couldn’t doodle anything myself until I started my Bullet Journal, and I had to go on a full-on journey to teach myself how to doodle.
I gathered all my best techniques, tips, and tricks to help you get there faster in my FREE course on doodling for beginners.
Simply sign up in the form below, and once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get all the details to start your doodling adventures right away.
More Resources
Are you looking for more doodles and recommendations for things to level up your notes? I’ve got you covered!
Check out these posts next:
- 13 Best Note-Taking Supplies
- Sketchnotes: Introduction Into Visual Note Taking
- Aesthetic Header And Title Ideas For Your Notes
>>> What kind of doodles do you usually use for your notes? Share with us in the comments!
Hope this post was interesting. If you find it so, please share! If you enjoy my content and want to show your appreciation, please consider supporting me with a cup of coffee.
And remember: Keep Bullet Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
