… then GRAB your crayons!
Busy parents and agitated business people will go to any lengths to find the newest and best relaxation technique, but the stress-reducer that is soaring in popularity is something that most people haven’t done since primary school — colouring.
Research has suggested that coloring can have beneficial results for adults suffering from stress, reports the Huffington Post. Returning to the childhood delight has gained popularity both in Europe and North America to aid stress reduction and increase general wellness.
According to the study, colouring relieves stress by allowing people to actively meditate. More than just sitting indian style saying “Ohm”, active meditation techniques (like colouring) helps to focus on an activity and not on our worries. Colouring also reminds us of our childhood, a less stressful time for many of us.
Psychologist Gloria Martinez Ayala tells the Huffington Post that coloring triggers and stimulates the brain areas associated with motor skills, creativity, and the senses. Coloring helps to calm the part of our brains called the amygdala, which controls our emotions and stress.
This new stress buster has encouraged a number of publishers to cater to adults by launching coloring books outside of their typical cartoon stylings. In the UK and France, coloring books for adults have even hit the bestseller lists.
Hachette, a French publisher, has jumped on the trend by selling specific stress-reducing coloring books called Art-Thérapie. Using coloring books to de-stress has attained epic popular with French women, posting their creations on social media and forming Facebook groups to share tips.
Colouring is a joyful activity that is a much easier way to reduce stress than schlepping to the gym or having your legs go numb indian style (and don’t even get me started on the “Ohm”). Although you may want to hide your completed Benedict Cumberbatch colouring book… or better yet your fully colored Harry Stiles pages plastering your bedroom walls. Yes. I’m not even joking. It’s a thing. Check out I Love Mel . You’re welcome.
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