Coloring reduces stress

I was reluctant to believe it. I used to believe that coloring is for children. In my defense, it is something we have all been brought up to believe in. but I began to see coloring in a different light when I could see that there were coloring books available that were not mere cartoons; they were complicated designs, artsy, sophisticated. And when I saw that Serina, my best friend was coloring during the lockdown days, I was more than tempted to give it a try myself. I don’t know what set me off that particular day, but it was she, who inspired me. What did I have to lose? There was a slight hindrance in the plan. I had no coloring book.

I dug up my old coloring set and decided to draw my own mandala. I had to look up what designs I could fill in for the mandala and I took my sweet time. Needless to say, I was enjoying it. When I finished the mandala drawing, I was rather proud of myself. And now there was the coloring. I split open the coloring set.

I inky pinkied my way through the different colors. The various colors on the drawing made me feel as if I were bringing it to life. The combination of those colors were putting my mind to an ease; giving me something to focus on. And the best part was that I was in control; in control of which color would go where; how the final outcome would look. I was beginning to see why rainbows were associated with joy. Because what I was doing on that piece of paper, was bringing me some.

So yeah, coloring can reduce stress. It can you make energetic, it can calm your nerves, it can increase your mindfulness and most of all, it makes you determined because you want to see that final picture in the bright tones of your creativity. So next time, you feel stressed, give it a go, color your stress away!