The therapeutic hobby is gaining huge momentum and with this many benefits, it’s easy to see why…
From massages to yoga, there’s a plethora of ways to de-stress and calm the mind, body and soul – but have you ever considered the benefits of adult colouring? Promoting creativity, boosting imagination and not to mention its therapeutic properties, a few minutes spent shading can help to soothe the mind and reduce stress levels. With so many colouring books available, from intricate flower designs to handy pocket-sized books, you can colour anytime, anywhere.Sharpeners at the ready ladies…
1 Natural stress reliever
Colouring has been found to possess stress-reducing benefits. Why? It’s said to calm the amygdala, the part of the brain related to fear and stress response. A 2005 study discovered that colouring geometric patterns reduced anxiety leading to colour therapy gaining popularity with those suffering from anxiety and stress-related disorders. Patients claim to have a better night’s sleep after colouring for just five minutes before turning in. So before you brew a pot of chamomile tea, try picking up your pencils.
2 Form of meditation
Colouring promotes mindfulness and experimenting with repeating patterns can lead you to a meditative state. Mandalas are great for this. The repetitive circles of these ancient designs relaxes the mind and keeps the colourer focused on the present moment – just like in meditation but without an om in sight.
3 Activates both parts of the cerebral hemisphere
According to psychologist Gloria Martinez Ayala, the action of colouring involves both logic and creativity. We use our logical half to choose colours and our creative half to mix them together. “This incorporates the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills which is the coordination necessary to make small, precise movements,” Gloria explains. By using both sides of our brain, our entire focus is on the colouring, distracting us from our other worries in turn helping to promote optimal wellbeing.
4 Stimulates focus and creativity
If you thought colouring was for pre-schoolers and hippy chicks then think again. Businesses in creative professions and high-stress industries are embracing adult colouring to boost employees focus and creativity. With research suggesting that even a short colouring session can help improve concentration, some companies are making time for group colouring classes, especially during intense projects. If it’s good enough for suit-wearing executives, then it’s certainly good enough for us.
5 Boosts self esteem and sense of accomplishment
Colouring is the perfect way to feel like an artist, and the best part is that it doesn’t matter if you lack drawing ability. Just like we proudly hang our children’s art on the fridge to celebrate their accomplishment, flicking through a book filled with completed colouring offers the same sense of achievement and satisfaction – but this time we’re celebrating you!
Want to get started straight away? Download three William Morris designs here .
Article by
Lauren Godfrey
Content Writer
Article by
Lauren Godfrey
Content Writer
By Lauren Godfrey
