Tip: Coloring Is (Still) Good for You!

Quick question: When was the last time you broke out a box of Crayola crayons and started coloring? Last week? A few years ago? The last day of elementary school? Can’t remember?
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Turns out, coloring isn’t just child’s play anymore.

I’m sure you’ve heard all the statistics and research by now — about how the seemingly simple act can help you de-stress, relax and generally just put you in a better frame of mind. It can help you recharge your batteries for taking on the world later.

“I recommend it as a relaxation technique,” says psychologist Antoni Martínez. “We can use it to enter into a more creative, freer state,” he assures. We can also use it to connect with how we feel, since depending on our mood we choose different colors or intensity. “I myself have practiced that. I recommend it in a quiet environment, even with chill music. Let the color and the lines flow.”

I’ve long been a fan of taking crayon to paper. There’s nothing like a fresh box of crayons and a crisp new Disney princess coloring book. Sure, it may be a bit juvenile, but it made me happy and brought a huge smile to my face. I may not have been the most talented (who really wants to stay in the lines anyway?), but it was fun and I was relaxing, which was the whole point in the first place. Now my sister? Oh, she had the talent. Each page was practically a work of art — so meticulous and pretty!

And with the popularity of adult coloring, we’ve got even more options than ever these days — options that far exceed the Disney set. Here are a few examples of my favorites…

*Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns, $10.26.
*The Coloring Cafe, $10.
*Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book, $9.57.
*Folk Art coloring book, $9.99.
*Color Therapy: An Anti-Stress Coloring Book, $9.
*The 1990s Coloring Book, $7.22.

Are you a big fan of coloring, friends? Do you find that it relaxes you? I challenge you to go forth with your favorite color crayon in hand and paint the world any shade you want! xoxo

P.S. Remember this Ryan Gosling coloring book? Le sigh… 🙂

[Photo via We Heart It]