Yes, I said color. As in coloring books. How great is that? Remember the simple joy of being a kid, sitting down (or laying on the kitchen floor) with some paper and a box of crayons, and scribbling to your heart’s content? Well, it turns out, what helps little minds grow helps big minds cope and there is a world of coloring books just for adults!
The concept is similar to what it was when you were a child: When you take the time to engage in a creative activity like coloring you focus all of your energy on that activity. For adults, this means you remove yourself momentarily from responsibility and the negative stress that may go along with it. I can almost hear some of you saying, “But it’s just a distraction! All my problems will still be there when I’m done coloring.” To that I say, “You’re right!” It is a distraction. Distraction is considered a healthy coping mechanism, when used in moderation, of course. You are allowing yourself the time to rejuvenate and approach your stressors with a freshly rested mind.
Furthermore, when you participate in an activity such as drawing, painting, or coloring, you are engaging several areas of your brain, including those responsible for planning, fine motor control, and creativity. Just like working out your abs, regularly exercising your brain in certain activities can help keep those areas healthy and functioning well. A healthy, well rounded mind is one that is able to problem solve and handle negative stress.
So why adult coloring books? Why can’t you just doodle? Simply put: You can doodle. Or draw, or paint, or sculpt. If you have the confidence or skill to take on those activities to combat your stress, do them! Do what works for you. Just be careful that your activities don’t cause you more stress. If you’re like me, maybe you’re an artist in your heart but- to put it delicately- the result is never quite like the masterpiece in your mind. The coloring books exist for anyone, but they’re great for those of us who can be hard on ourselves for our lack of artistic talent. The blueprint is there. All you have to do is fill in the blanks!
If you’re looking for a place to start, check out Amazon’s current list of top selling books. You will find no less than four adult coloring books in the Top 15. You can also do a simple internet search for “adult coloring book pages” and have millions of images to choose from.
So the next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or maybe you just have some free time, give it a shot! Hopefully, it will ease your stress, but even if it doesn’t, you’ve probably made something beautiful that you can hang on the fridge and be proud of. Just like when you were a kid.
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