While Christmas shopping last month, I kept seeing coloring books almost everywhere I went. Not your typical juvenile-themed ones that you buy for kids, no. These were lovely high quality books with dreamy designs begging to be filled with beautiful sharp colored pencils that were already attached. So I admit…I gave in, because they were calling to me. I thought “this will be a great gift for my creative teenage daughter”, and it was.
And then something happened.
One winter break day when it was particularly cold and boring, I sat down and opened the new coloring book. I chose a picture and began filling in the black lines with pretty shades of aqua and blue and coral. And 20 minutes later, I was still coloring. It was strangely addicting, but also the most calm I had felt in weeks. What was this magic??
It turns out that coloring as an adult is much more satisfying and enjoyable than it ever was a child, and I kind of want to shout it from the rooftops!
If you haven’t tried your hand at adult coloring, here some reasons I suggest you give it a go!
1. It’s an easy way to be creative. We all have an innate desire to create. Whether it’s through cooking, decorating, writing, art, music, poetry, music, heck even making babies – we all thrive on creating. For those of us who want to be artists but can’t draw or paint to save a life, trust me – adult coloring is for you. The lines are already there for you! Color them in and voila! You have a work of art.
2. It’s relaxing. I can’t stress this one enough. Feeling overwhelmed? Had a bad day? Need to unwind? Whenever I color, I get into the “zone”. It’s where kids aren’t fighting, bills don’t need to be paid, and everything is beautiful. It seriously has such a calming effect that you forget about the craziness of life for a few minutes, and we all need that from time to time.
3. Health benefits. Coloring has some of the same benefits as art therapy, and has been proven to lessen anxiety and improve mental health. The simple act of sitting still and focusing on creating something can also lower blood pressure and has a meditating effect on the body.
“Coloring definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring [about] more mindfulness,” says Marygrace Berberian, a certified art therapist and the Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Graduate Art Therapy Program at NYU. Research conducted in 2005 proved anxiety levels dropped when subjects colored mandalas, which are round frames with geometric patterns inside.
“Just like meditation, coloring also allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus only on the moment, helping to alleviate anxiety. It can be particularly effective for people who aren’t comfortable with more creatively expressive forms of art”, says Berberian. “My experience has been that those participants who are more guarded find a lot of tranquility in coloring an image. It feels safer and it creates containment around their process,” she adds.
So, how do you get started?
Go pick yourself up a book and start coloring! Might I also suggest staying away from crayons? We are adults, afterall…
Grab some good colored pencils or markers for coloring. They provide better coverage and precision. (The more colors the better!)
Happy Coloring!!
