Crayons and Colored Pencils, Oh My!
Coloring is one of my favorite wellness tools in my toolbox.
If you want to channel your inner child, calm your mind and bring joy into your life, just grab a box of crayons and a coloring book! This is how I quiet my mind and disconnect – a creative mental reset. Coloring is one of my favorite wellness tools in my toolbox. It gets me out of my head and into the present moment. I like to call it “Coloring Meditation”. Still your mind, focus on your breath and brighten up your world with coloring. It’s simple and fun, exactly what wellness should be like.
Being creative and letting your brain flow artistically is great therapy. Coloring is inexpensive, portable and super fun – and if you’re like me, getting comfortable with coloring outside the lines is a lesson in itself. While logic keeps us coloring in the lines, selecting our favorite colors keeps our creative juices flowing.
What I learned through coloring is that my end result is not about perfectly staying in the lines, it’s about settling your mind and finding peace. I really connected with coloring during quarantine when I was faced with more alone time than I knew how to handle. Coloring brought me peace, filled space with color and brought me joy when I was feeling lonely. I set up a coloring station by a window in my apartment. Just looking at my coloring station brought me joy and when I sat in that seat, nothing else mattered. There are so many fun and inappropriate coloring books out there. Choose what you like and begin your coloring journey.
I also love that coloring has so many amazing benefits. Not only does it quiet the mind, it’s also a great way for your brain to visually think through an idea or process. While it may seem like a child-like thing to do, it’s actually a powerful way to bring your ideas to life. There are so many more benefits – big benefits. Spending time with crayons or colored pencils – my personal favorite – can reduce stress and anxiety. That’s huge!
Coloring can improve your motor skills and vision, something that children need as they are developing but also as we begin to age, it’s so important to keep our brain waves vibrant. When you color, it requires your two brain hemispheres to communicate. Losing my dad to dementia makes me very aware of my own brain health. It’s never too late to start caring for your brain.
So before you go to bed, turn off your TV and cell phones and pick up your crayons. You’ll sleep better and improve your focus. I think that’s a great reason to have fun, relax, and embrace your inner child.
Live You Now: Find a coloring book and a set of crayons or pencils. Try coloring every night for 11 minutes before you go to bed. In the morning, pay attention to how you feel and what you dreams were like.
XOXO