Color Off Stress: A New Way To Relax
We are able to turn our brains off, disconnect, or relax while we paint. Coloring helps us escape from this world, stimulate our own creativity, connect with ourselves, and give our imagination the freedom to control. Which is all the reason why we introduce you to the following new trend: stress coloring.
Studies show that we start with hand-eye coordination when we focus on painting, which in turn causes us to activate certain areas of our brain that favor the passivation of the limbic system (the guardian of our emotions), so we get rid of worries and anxiety.
Somehow we rediscover our inner order, manipulate ourselves, and bring order to our scattered thoughts while diving into the depths of that task, which slowly gets us completely into its traps and which we find fun and rewarding.
The power of coloring books and coloring as adults reduce stress
But how does this activity work in our brains and why is coloring as an activity so effective in relaxing our bodies and minds? Let’s look below:
We cut off power to our brains
Of course we are not quite literally. But through coloring, we are focused on connecting our logical side with our creative side in a way that we lighten the intensity with which we focus on our thoughts and feelings.
Finding colors that interest us activates areas in our brain that are connected to vision and fine motor skills, causing the almond nucleus to take a break and providing more balance to our emotions .
We unleash creativity
When we immerse ourselves for a few hours in something we enjoy, it helps us unleash our creativity.
In addition, there are a myriad of different themes to choose from, ranging from mandalas to animals, woods, and other drawings. Just a small dive into this world is enough for you to find what you enjoy the most.
We do something purely for pleasure
This may seem silly, but we should each stop and think about how many things we do in our daily lives purely for pleasure. In addition to this, we should also question everything we do in life at all, just so we can enjoy.
Quickly and easily find a place where we can meet ourselves… and others
We have the perfect excuse to sit down to color and dedicate ourselves to ourselves, to understand our own sorrows and to make new friends. By this we mean that coloring invites us to connect with our own inner and outer world.
Groups and sites have spread like wildfire on Facebook that bring together adult colorers, turning them into motivational sites that drive the issue of relaxation and well-being. If you are interested, we encourage you to explore these further.
Bestsellers to help you color stress away
While there are numerous such books today that help us eliminate stress from our daily lives in a way that is recognizing just as effective as meditation, there are some cases that are “breaking the statistics” and stand out as strong success books.
One of these is the “ Secret Garden ” created by Scottish artist Johanna Basford , which has become a real international success and has already been translated into more than 14 different languages. His paintings are handmade and include coloring things like animals, forests and flowers. Another much-loved book by this same creator is called “The Enchanted Forest ”.
In Johanna’s own words, she found inspiration to create this book from her childhood visits to her grandparents who lived in an environment colored by wild and unpredictable forests.
Through his drawings, we can gradually explore different coloring techniques, patiently coloring every detail and creating numerous nuances that bring this effort to life and soothe our thoughts.
As you can see from the previous picture, there are drawings in the book that range from small details to tiny, almost magical details. The idea is that we as adults get used to the way we spend our time and work patiently.
Another book well known in the world of coloring books is “ Mandalas y otros dibujos budistas para colorear” ( Coloring m andalas and other Buddhist drawings ) . In its red thread, this book brings together numerous images of mandalas and patterns on Buddhist subjects to nourish our colorful minds .
This anti-stress trend is right at our fingertips and we have the opportunity to reduce anxiety and strengthen the calming, healing effects… If only we agree to give it a try!
One of the most recognized creators of this trend is Richard Merritt, who offers many really cool options, such as the “ Art Therapy Coloring Book ”. As you can see from the image below, these books contain true beauty.
As a final alternative to the most well-known books, we present to you the book “ The Mindfulness Coloring Book” created by visual artist Emma Farrarons . Its beautiful images invite us to meditate consciously, filling its pages with color during the process and with the peace and quiet of our own minds.
With one simple search on the internet, you can get an idea of the tremendous popularity of these coloring books. Plus, you can possibly even find printable drawings for free if you just want to try this technique.
We encourage you to make this beautiful work a great way for your own mind and a meeting place for your own inner world. Remember, you have a great reason to color whenever you feel like you don’t want to think about anything or just want to give your brain a break.
Let’s bring our wood paint, wax chalk and eraser back to the tables!
