Color Outside the Lines
Why Adult Coloring Books Are Going to Be Your New Best Friend
Mindless Coloring vs. Mindless Eating
Alright, it’s time to be honest now! After a long, stressful day, many of us just want to unwind on the couch and relax, right? We don’t want to do the chores or drop our kids off at soccer practice, we want to numb out in front of the tv without a care in the world! And oftentimes, this type of relaxation comes paired with mindless eating because what’s your favorite movie without some good snacks! We've all been there, reaching for the sweet or salty treats and heavy comfort foods while zoning out in front of the screen, But, what if there was a healthier way to decompress that didn't involve food? Or maybe it does involve food, but you’re a bit more preoccupied, reducing the chance you hit the bottom of the chip bag after opening it 30 minutes ago.
Enter: Adult Coloring Books
And yes, I totally heard the little kid in you scream with excitement for that one! Did you know coloring actually offers us a fantastic alternative to mindless eating.? It engages our mind in a soothing, repetitive activity that doesn't require much thought, just like binging out in front of the tv does! Except coloring allows us to unwind without the guilt and shame that usually follows after consuming unnecessary calories, especially when we weren’t even truly hungry to begin with. Unlike mindless eating, which can lead to weight gain, bloating, discomfort, and feelings of resentment… mindless coloring can help us de-stress in a way that's both enjoyable and beneficial. And bonus, it’s not about depriving ourselves of food or saying “no” to snacking, it’s just providing us with a different, more positive coping mechanism at the end of the day!
Perks of Coloring While You Relax
When you sit on the couch with a coloring book, you're giving yourself permission to take a break without feeling bad about it. So many of us struggle to stop and take a break because we feel lazy or spiral over all of the things we “should” be doing, when rest and recovery is just as important as the dishes in the sink, if not more so! Coloring is so much more than a mundane children’s activity, it’s an excellent way to practice mindfulness! When we put pen to paper, we can anchor ourselves in the present moment, which helps us focus on the task at hand, rather than worry ourselves to death over the past “mistakes” and/or future “what if’s”. Meaning coloring can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with constant racing thoughts or anxiety (like I do)!
Coloring also provides a sense of accomplishment, which is why kids are always so proud after finishing a new work of art and beg you to hand it on the fridge. Completing a page or even a small section can give offer us a little dopamine boost, just like it does for children, making us feel productive even while we're relaxing! It's such a simple, yet overlooked pleasure that can go a long way in improving our mood and our day.
Additional Benefits of Adult Coloring Books
Beyond relaxation, adult coloring books offer several other benefits like:
Stress Reduction: As we discussed, the repetitive, meditative nature of coloring can help reduce stress and anxiety levels. It's a great way to unwind after a hectic day and can even be used as a form of therapy for those dealing with more serious mental health issues.
Enhanced Focus and Concentration: Coloring requires you to stay within the lines and specific choose colors based on the artwork, which can help improve our attention to detail and concentration. This can be especially helpful if you are someone who finds it hard to focus on tasks during the day, almost like strengthening the muscles in your brain.
Boosts Creativity: Even if we don't consider ourselves artistic, coloring allows us to open up our minds to possibility. While staying in the lines can be beneficial, so can coloring outside the lines as a way to experiment with colors and patterns in a free space, truly sparking our creativity. This can even translate into other areas of our lives by encouraging creative problem-solving and innovative thinking.
Promotes Mindfulness: Coloring helps us stay in the moment and enjoy it, which is a core aspect of mindfulness. By focusing on the act of coloring, we can quiet our minds and reduce the noise of everyday life. And just like with mindful eating, it doesn’t have to be a whole meal or a huge span of time. Even the smallest addition of coloring in our daily routine can have huge impacts on our overall well-being.
Unconventional Tips for Adding Coloring to Our Daily Routines
Coloring Ritual Before Bed
Set aside 15-20 minutes before bedtime to color. This can replace the time we spend scrolling on our phones or watching TV, both of which can interfere with sleep quality due to the heavy blue-light disrupting our circadian rhythm. Try to create a calming bedtime ritual by dimming the lights, playing soft music, and enjoying the tranquility of coloring.
Morning Mindfulness Coloring
Start the day with a few minutes of coloring to set a calm and focused tone before diving into stressful situations like work. Consider keeping a small coloring book and some pencils on the bedside table for easy access, so when you wake up, you can spend 5-10 minutes coloring. It can be a beautiful form of meditation that prepares you for the day ahead.
Coloring Commute
If you take public transportation to work, bring a small coloring book and a set of colored pencils on the road. We can even download a coloring app if we find a hard book t be an inconvenience. But, remember, the goal is to use this time to relax and color instead of scrolling through our phones or stressing about the day ahead. Either way, coloring can be a great way to make a commute more enjoyable and productive.
Coloring Breaks at Work
Instead of a coffee break, take a coloring break or even pair the two together (like I do)! Keep a coloring book at your desk and take 5-10 minutes to color when you need to clear your mind or reduce stress. I enjoy doing this between clients, so I can enter into each session with a refreshed headspace. It can help us refocus and boost our productivity for the rest of the day, without holding onto past emotions.
Group Coloring Sessions
Turn coloring into a social activity by inviting friends or family to join you. Do you know how many people participate in painting parties at bars, breweries, and wineries nowadays? Consider hosting a coloring night where everyone brings their own coloring books and supplies and even a small dish. You can chat, relax, and enjoy each other’s company while coloring, which is a great way to bond and de-stress together!
Coloring for Mindful Eating
Combine coloring with your meal times, which may sound hypocritical because the goal is to focus on what you’re eating and how you’re feeling, but this can be a great way to transition from the tv to a distraction free meal. While you eat, keep a small coloring book at the table and between bites, color a little bit. This can help you eat more mindfully, nurturing those visual sensations by paying attention to your food and your coloring. It slows down your eating pace and enhances the experience of the meal, heavily focusing on enjoyment and physical appeal.
Themed Coloring Challenges
Set personal coloring challenges or themes for each week, month, or season. For example, you could have a “blue week” where you only use shades of blue, a “nature month” where you focus on coloring natural scenes, or a “summer season” where you only focus on outdoor activities like grilling out or sitting poolside. This adds a fun twist and keeps the activity engaging while you continue strengthening your skills!
Coloring During TV Time
If you enjoy watching TV to unwind, keep a coloring book handy and enjoy both. During commercials or slower parts of the show, color for a few minutes, or turn on a movie you’ve seen 10+ times and listen to it in the background while going hard coloring in that mandala. This way, we’re still relaxing, but we’re also engaging in a mindful activity that can keep us binge free.
Creative Journaling
Incorporate coloring into your journaling practice by combining the two. Use coloring books with inspirational quotes or patterns that you can color in and reflect on or add space in your journal for freehand doodles. This adds a creative element to your journaling routine and enhances self-expression because there is no right way to be creative!
Mindful Moments
Place coloring books in areas where you tend to feel most overwhelmed or overstimulated. So, those environments where you experience a lot of stress, like your home office, kitchen, or even the bathroom will get there own coloring book and box of crayons. That way, when you feel yourself tensing up or filling with heavy emotions, you can take a moment to color a few sections. Small, mindful moments like this can make a big difference in managing daily stress.
By integrating these unconventional tips into our routine, we can find many more opportunities to enjoy the benefits of adult coloring books. Truly, it’s all about making the activity accessible and enjoyable, by simply turning it into a regular part of our self-care practice.
Bring Out Your Inner Child Again
Adult coloring books are a fantastic tool for decompressing after stressful events and my go to coping mechanism after a big holiday meal. They offer a mindful alternative to mindless eating, work frustration, emotional support, and more because they allow us to relax without the guilt! Plus, the additional benefits like enhanced focus and creativity make coloring an all-around beneficial activity promoting improved cognitive function. So, next time you're looking to unwind, grab a coloring book and some pencils, and let the colors take you to a place of calmness and relaxation.
