Stressed at work? Anxious about a looming deadline? Don’t fret – get out your coloring pencils and a coloring book! Yes, you heard me right! According to the American Art Therapy Association, “coloring definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring more mindfulness”. Just like meditation, coloring allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus only on the moment, helping to alleviate anxiety.
So how do you get started? Well, don’t raid your kids Crayola® boxes, according to ColoringBooks.net you should skip the crayons and go right for the colored pencils (as precision is everything when it comes to tuning in). And let’s not forget the coloring book – here are some of the most popular adult coloring books you can find on Amazon.com: Enchanted Forest and Secret Garden by Johanna Basford, Color Me Stress-Free, Color Me Happy and Color Me Calm by Lacy Mucklow and Angela Porter.
Now on to coloring! Here are some tips I find helpful:
• Make time to color every day. Even doodling is coloring!
• Inside the lines. Outside the lines. It is your masterpiece do what you want!
• Have fun! Try new techniques.
Even the most creative need some downtime to recharge our minds! Take some time for you today – and color!