3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain
Coloring is an activity that needs you to focus on something outside of yourself but simple enough to only demand a modest level of attention. This brings a sense of peace and calmness to our busy brains.
But what exactly makes coloring such a pleasurable activity?
Simple activities help your brain to relax
Do you know this feeling of your own thought being “too loud”? Our brain always wants to have something to do and especially in our busy modern times’ distraction is everywhere. Trying to relax by “doing nothing” might provoke uncomfortableness in us, because we are used to outer stimuli so much. While you try to give yourself a break from certain mental tasks, let’s say an intense project you have to participate in for work, instead of getting the silence you long for, your mind starts to race and bombard you with thoughts. You might have noticed that doing simple activities provides more relaxation for your mind than doing nothing.
Coloring books are a great source of getting both your hands, your eyes, and your brain involved in a simple activity that is not too demanding but enough helping to calm down your thoughts.
There is no need for perfection
The black-and-white designs on the pages of a coloring book are much less intimidating than the vast emptiness of a sketchbook. In a coloring book, you can be creative without having to worry that you “can’t draw”. The outlines are already printed on the pages and you don’t have to create anything from scratch. This takes away a lot of stress from most people that feel otherwise stopped in their creativity because of focusing too much on “getting it right”.
It allows focusing outside of oneself
Our internal world can be overwhelming at times and we need to calm ourselves. Coloring becomes a meditative exercise if you want it to! The simple joy of bringing colors to paper relaxes the brain and creates a calm joyful sensation in most people.
In a recent study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of coloring a complex geometric design, like a mandala, on reducing anxiety with a group of undergraduate students. The results showed a decrease in anxiety levels for the students and suggested the practice created a sort of meditative state that is beneficial for reducing anxiety.
Can those effects be seen in adults as well? I definitely think so!
Searching for hobbies that help to unwind is nothing new, but while many hobbies require you to spend money on expensive equipment or a gym membership, a coloring book is fairly affordable even if you’re on a tight budget.
Especially in those times when the world is shaken by a pandemic, it is crucial to actively look for ways to restore feelings of well-being in ourselves and reduce tension. Coloring books can be of great help with that!