Life has been so fast-paced recently, that a person gets hardly any time to have slow days. When we were kids, we indulged in all sorts of fun. I remember I loved playing games, playing kitchen with my friends, and the iconic coloring books.

As kids, we were introduced to fun and brain-growing activities. As we grew up, we were stuck in this cycle of work, school, and our screens. How about we still embrace the happy activities we loved as kids? Is that possible after reaching adulthood, when all we worry about are bills?

This is where coloring for adults comes in, a fun, peaceful activity for yourself.

Why Coloring Is More Than A Hobby?

Life can be stressful as we grow up. You hardly get time for yourself, it’s too much. But coloring can be different, it can work seamlessly in your life to help with your stress.

It isn’t just about adding colors to a white piece of paper with outlines, it’s escaping from reality for a bit. You get so deep in it to perfect your art, you forget about whatever is bothering you. Coloring brings your brain a flow, where daily struggles can relax and creativity takes the stage. When you see those blank outlines, your brain produces lots of ideas of different colors you can add! sounds fun?

Moreover, colors have a positive outlook on humans. Colors can evoke emotions like happy, calm, sad, anger. Coloring also helps to relax the amygdala and brings it to a meditative state.

It can be more than just a hobby, with consistent continuous sessions , it can improve your memory and enhance your mood.

Adult Coloring And Why It Helps

As I mentioned, coloring is more than a hobby. It can be a safe space you create for yourself to connect and explore. It can be an activity you do for yourself, or share with others.

Let’s jump in to see how can help you.

Mindfulness Activity

Colors soothe your mind, it brings you to a state of awareness and calm. A cup of coffee and your favorite pattern, and see how time slows down. Coloring helps you focus on something you want to, it gently relaxes your muscles and pulls your shoulders down. While you have racing thoughts, and an empty feeling, coloring can be your own space to be in.

Lot of mental health articles mention, how important it is to sit with yourself. Coloring gives you that space with yourself.

You Get More Creative

If you are given an empty wall and variety of paints, what do you think? You might want to paint a picture, or color the wall in your favorite shade, or just go with the flow. That’s what coloring gives you, a boost of creativity! It is a fun way to express yourself, a great activity that can boost your mood an energy.

It Gives You A Break

What is your screen time? Don’t worry, I have probably the same as yours. Life is digitized now, every moment of the day, we spend it on our phones.

Coloring gives your eyes a break, it gently brings you out of the digital web and nudges you into calm and active mind. It gives your brain and body a needed break, where all you have to worry about is staying between the lines. It is a warm and comfortable experience, if you let it be.

Improves Your Focus

Coloring is an art to master, it is a training. Training for what? THE BRAIN! It trains your brain to stay present, and enhance your focus levels.

We are habituated to the 15 second videos, and eye-catchy keywords. Coloring gives you a break from that, and helps you focus and nurture your own time.

Mood Gets Better

Colors represent meanings of life, blue calms you, whereas yellow is known as the happy color. If your favorite color is pink, seeing it makes you smile.

Color influences your emotions, seeing different colors fill your book makes you happy. It somewhere gives you a sense of achievement when a page is done. Colors is exactly why you get happy to see a bright sunny day outside, it enhances the surrounding around you.

Healthy Way To Detox

Many people have realized how too much screen time affects you, so they participate in digital detox. Taking the initiative to color can give you that digital detox, it is a fun and effective way to spend time.

Coloring engages your hands while keeping your mind at rest. Just turn off your notifications, relax your shoulders and let yourself go in the creative world. The light from your screen can strain your eyes, and coloring helps you recharge.

Also Read: Mindfulness and meditation? Difference,10 profound benefits

Tips To Incorporate Coloring

To experience these benefits, you need to have a certain mindset. Nobody can color right after coming from work, or as soon as they get up. Following are some tips for when you start coloring.

• Have a cozy space and clean space for coloring time
• Invest on good color supplies and books, pick something tailored for you
• Light a candle, brew some tea while setting your space. It enhances your experience
• Play some soft music, or listen to self-care podcasts
• Start with one coloring book, see how it works out for you
• Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes of your day to color
• Allow coloring to become your space to relax, change your mindset into believing it is helping you
• Don’t pace fast just to finish, take your time. Remember it’s about the process and not the result
• It’s okay to take breaks, if you feel distracted or feel like you are done with it. It’s okay
• You can invite your friends, or have coloring dates
• Reward yourself after each page gets filled, a small treat, movie, anything

Coloring You Away

Whether you color just for fun, to unwind, or want to connect to yourself, it gives all the benefits. By setting up a sweet space, having your favorite drink with it, you are showing yourself that you matter. It’s a beautiful mindfulness activity.

It can be therapeutic if you let it be, so grab your brush pens or crayons and watch yourself color away.