Color Your Stress Away: The 411 on Coloring by Numbers

College is a constant grind and even with midterms behind us, it can still be super stressful at times. Luckily, there’s a solution that’s been proven to not only lower people’s stress levels, but also bring out their inner youngster: coloring!

I know what you might be thinking, but before you go off and say “coloring is just for kids,” check out how helpful it can be with destressing us when we’re at our absolute worst.

Adult coloring has become the latest societal fad, according to the article “3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain”, and it’s also turned into a very popular form of relaxation. Scott M. Bea, a clinical psychologist, describes adult coloring as “a simple activity that takes us outside ourselves.” The reason we often find it so relaxing is because it ultimately refocuses our attention.

How does coloring relax us?

1.  The first thing that happens when we color is that our attention is taken away from ourselves and, instead, directed to the present-moment event. Dr. Bea explains that this “[attention flow] is very much like a meditative exercise.”

2.  Second, the brain itself relaxes when we do a simple task (such as coloring) because we aren’t focused on our current thoughts or life challenges.

3.  The third and final reason adult coloring is found so relaxing is because the activity has a predictable outcome: a finished picture. Dr. Bea continues by stating, “It is hard to screw up coloring, and, even if you do, there is no real consequence.”

Why has adult coloring now become so popular?

Dr. Bea describes the ugly truth that we live in an extremely stress-inducing society, whether it be from work or school, family, or even cell phones and other personal devices. Because of this, people tend to frequently look for new ways to reduce tension and the “toll that our stressful lives takes on our health.”

Still not convinced that coloring can help lower your stress? Here are a few more insights from other professionals:

• In the article “The Therapeutic Science of Adult Coloring Books: How This Childhood Pastime Helps Adults Relieve Stress”, Dr. Joel Pearson, a brain scientist at the University of New South Wales, explains that the act of focusing on coloring may actually help replace any negative thoughts with positive ones. 
• Dr. Nikki Martinez, a tele-health counselor from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, provides two ways adult coloring can improve the strength of our brain in the article “7 Reasons Adult Coloring Books Are Great for Your Mental, Emotional and Intellectual Health”:

1.  First, coloring utilizes parts of the brain that emphasize focus and concentration: “Our frontal lobes are responsible for these higher level […] functions of the brain, and coloring detailed pictures activates all those properties.”

2.  Second, coloring also activates both brain hemispheres: “When we are thinking about balance, color choices [and] applying pencil to paper, we are working on problem-solving and fine motor skills.”

Think about these points the next time you pass by a box of crayons, colored pencils or even fruity-scented markers at the store, and remember: coloring is not just for kids!

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