The Surprising Benefits of Coloring for Mindfulness and Relaxation
How Coloring Boosts Focus, Reduces Stress, and Inspires Creativity in Just Minutes a Day
I still love the smell of a box of new crayons or colored pencils. It takes me back to my childhood when stress was non-existent—or at least to simpler times.
Coloring isn’t just a fun activity for kids; it has emerged as a powerful tool for adults to enhance focus, relieve stress, and lower cortisol. Cortisol is a nasty stress hormone that contributes to weight gain, acne, anxiety, depression, heart disease, and a myriad of other health issues.
Studies have shown that by focusing on the task at hand—choosing colors, filling in spaces, and creating patterns—people experience an immersive, almost meditative state that helps quiet the mind and foster mindfulness.
“Coloring has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, as it allows the individual to focus on a simple, repetitive activity. This action engages the brain in a way similar to meditation, creating a calming effect by reducing activity in the amygdala, the brain’s fear center. This reduction in amygdala activity promotes relaxation and can lead to a decrease in stress and anxiety levels” (American Journal of Public Health, 2018)
