Benefits to Adult Coloring

Benefits To Adult Coloring

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The reality is true Adults need to color! In fact, researchers have known for over 100 years the benefits of coloring on the adult brain and famous psychiatrists throughout history (including Carl Jung) have recommended it to their patients.

Reasons such as:

1. Stress Relief

Coloring has been shown to have stress-reducing benefits. When we color for at least 20 consecutive minutes in detail our brain will start to meditate. Coloring is said to calm the amygdala, the part of the brain related to the fear/stress response while stimulating the parts of the brain responsible for creativity and logic. Some people report sleeping better when coloring for even 5 minutes before bedtime.

2. Focus and Creativity

Adults have many responsibilities so when we get home I highly recommend a few minutes of your favorite theme coloring book. It can help you to focus and be creative so the you can get motivated to start those other daily duties around the house we sometime dread! Even us business professionals in high-stress industries and creative professionals are learning how to color with the new glitter gel pens and metallic color makes it Artistic! There is evidence that even a short coloring session can help improve focus and spur creativity. Some offices are even making time for group coloring sessions for employees as a way to improve group focus and creativity during big projects.

While we may think of group coloring time as an activity for pre-schoolers, even high-profile executives are joining the trend!

2. Social Time

Group coloring time is becoming an increasingly popular activity in many places as clubs and social groups pop up to facilitate it. Even in my own small town I'm hosting at the library idult coloring sessions for free. I want people to see the benefit and gain free stress relief techniques.

Understand that coloring does take focus and promotes relaxation, it isn’t a difficult task that it can’t be done while talking or spending time with others, making it an increasingly popular group activity. If you have kids, this is a fun activity that you can do with them also!

3. Alternative to Meditation

So some people are good at praying and making time to meditate. But us busy moms are trying to multi task and get out to do list done. I want to encourage you to use this as a form of meditation. The psychological benefits of prayer and meditation have been well studied, but many people find it difficult to “turn-off” and calm the mind. We need to color and do something that helps calm our brain that is outside of the regular bible study routine. Coloring and other hands-on activities offer an alternative because they allow you to “do” something without the need for active concentration. In studies, activities like coloring are able to produce a similar effect to meditation in the brain.

I hope these reasons inspire you to Come and color with any group you see in your area. We have to learn to take care of ourselves. Sometimes our coping skills get boring and we need to think outside the box or maybe color outside the lines!

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By: Diana Ezell

~Art Thera~Play Studios~