5 Health Benefits of Adult Coloring Books

Coloring is everyone’s favorite childhood pastime. What if I told you that coloring books are no longer just for kids? In fact, there are countless health benefits that you get from coloring as an adult. In this blog, I will share with you 5 health benefits of adult coloring books. I will also share with you my very own motivational adult coloring book available for purchase on Amazon. 

Adult coloring books have recently resurfaced as a trend adults are coming to love again! It distracts us from the daily pressures of life and keeps us away from our electronics. Coloring books intended for adults widely differ from the ones you would get for your kids. They feature intricate designs, grown up themes, and higher quality paper. You also don’t have to be an expert at art to color. If you’re looking for an uplifting way to unwind after a stressful hectic week at work, coloring will surely do the trick. Plus when you add all of the health benefits it brings, it might be time to get out your crayons, markers, and color pencils! 

Without further ado, here are the 5 Health Benefits of Adult Coloring Books…

REDUCES ANXIETY & STRESS

Studies have shown that coloring can reduce stress and anxiety in adults. Coloring for even just 15 minutes is an effective way to lower your heart rate and decrease feelings of stress and anxiety. Studies have found that coloring more intricate designs like mandalas leads to experiencing more reduction in anxiety than coloring in a plaid pattern or blank page. When you’re focused on coloring, you also forget and let go of the things that may have caused stress throughout the day. Coloring relaxes both your body and mind by relieving all the tension caused from stress and anxiety. Once you relieve that tension you will notice a decrease in body aches, fatigue, sleeping problems, and even depression. 

INDUCES A MEDITATIVE STATE

There’s enough claims to sustain that coloring is a form of meditation. Coloring causes you to only focus on the present in return your mind goes into a meditative state where you immediately calm down and stop worrying about your future or past worries. Dr. Stan Rodski, a neuropsychologist shared an article on Medical Daily, where he states that “like meditation, coloring allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus on the moment. There are three key elements—repetition, pattern, and detail—that prompt positive neurological responses in participants. The most amazing things occurred — we started seeing changes in heart rate, changes in brainwaves.” He also mentions “When you have things that you can predict will happen in a certain way, it’s calming for us.” Tasks like coloring suspend your inner dialogue and remove any negative thoughts and emotions from your mind.

IMPROVES MOTOR SKILLS & FOCUS

Coloring requires two hemispheres of the brain to communicate, that is logic and creativity. Logic and focus helps us stay inside the lines, while choosing the next color invokes a creative thought process. It also trains your brain to understand and adjust to patterns, which develops efficient fine motor skills. Since the rise of electronics most people don’t have fine motor skills or are simply not using them as much. Make sure to read my last blog post, Is Digital Detox Necessary. Coloring also improves focus by having our brains open up our frontal lobe, which controls organization and problem solving. Regular coloring sessions allow you to relax from your day and focus on one thing. Some health professionals believe that coloring, as well as jigsaw puzzles and other brain teasers help delay dementia.   

IMPROVES SLEEP

You might have heard that it’s good to read before bed, just like reading coloring has the same effect. Coloring before bed also allows your melatonin level to release naturally as your body gets ready to sleep. It also helps you to avoid engaging with electronics at night, which can hinder your sleep quality. If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, take 15 minutes to get out of bed and start coloring. Coloring creates a relaxing and calm environment that can help you fall back to sleep. It’s definitely better than surfing through the net or watching TV.

ENCOURAGES SOCIALIZATION

Coloring doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. In fact, many adult coffee shops are providing coloring books as a form of a socializing activity while enjoying a warm cup of coffee. Coloring together as a family is a great way to bond with your kids after school and takes off some stress from the day. Or you can even host a coloring party and invite your friends for a wine and coloring night! 

As you can see, coloring provides many benefits for the body and mind. By just coloring, you can relax your mind, reboot your brain, and improve your mood. It also brings childhood nostalgia of being carefree without any worries. If you haven’t already make sure to check out my very own coloring book available on Amazon. It has beautiful intricate designs, as well as motivational quotes and affirmations that will instantly make you smile and boost your mood! Here’s a small preview of what’s inside: