Adult Coloring Books – Benefits

Almost everywhere you look, Adult Coloring Books are there. But why has this become such a fad and is it here to stay? If you look at about when Adult Coloring Books came about, you will find that they are relatively new. The amazing benefits that have been introduced have sprung to life the need for these intricate designs. Some of those benefits include lowering stress and anxiety, allowing the brain to mediate and helps us unplug from technology that we all desperately need. In this post I will discuss the different benefits that adult coloring books provide.

Lowering Stress and Anxiety Levels.

Although adult coloring books can not cure diseases themselves, they have been shown to assist with the coping mechanisms required. By coloring repetitive patterns, your mind is put into a state of meditation that allows you to relax and lower your stress and anxiety levels and helps you focus. Before, coloring was used for children, but has had such surprising benefits for adults, a new niche was created.  All you have to do is add in the fantastical worlds we have grown to love such as Star Wars, Doctor Who and Harry Potter, and you have filled a void that appeals to everyone. Coloring forces us to use repetition and attention to detail to block out the stressors in our minds. This ultimately allows you to focus better on what you need to.

It is my belief that doodling or coloring while in a meeting at work, or while listening to a lecture are not rude, but instead allow us to block out those things in our lives that would otherwise distract us from actually understanding the material being discussed. I encourage doodling and have even put it into practice during long phone calls or brainstorming and it has only proved to be beneficial.

I have found coloring to be extremely relaxing through my own personal experiences. I have almost every type of coloring book from Mandala to Game of Thrones. I have even had the ability to create a coloring time with all the members of my family that have been extremely beneficial. When you color, unplugged, you find conversation that has always been begging to be spoken. Creating a closer bond with other human beings releases endorphins that make one more relaxed and at ease as well. This benefit, although there will always be those that reject it, has been the most beneficial for me.

Allowing One to Enter a Meditative State.

When we color, it allows us to “shut off” our mind from running out of control. Many people complaining of thinking too much or being surrounded by too much negativity. However, when you color, your mind enters a meditative state that shuts out those things that cause restlessness.  Researchers have shown lowered heart rate and blood pressure as well as changes in brainwaves when you color.  Using our senses to create works of art, is what allows us to focus on the things that we find the most important in our lives.

I use coloring when I’m under a lot of pressure at work, or have to complete daunting tasks that plague my mind even after I punch out. Sometimes, It seems to be the easiest way for me to relax enough to sleep. I can tone out almost every other sound when I focus in on creating and coloring patterns. This is my experience with entering a meditative state that allows me to sleep better at night. Since I started coloring, I find myself not only falling asleep faster, but sleeping a lot more sound than I did before hand.

Helping Us Unplug.

I have seen researches that claim that Adults devote on average 10 hours a day on-screen time. In my personal experience, I think that number is way higher. Imagine someone, like myself, that works in accounting. While I am at work, I am looking at not one screen but two, this is not to mention any phone usage I encounter throughout the day. After I come home, there is always a TV going even though I don’t watch it much, it’s still on because other members of my household watch TV. I have this blog that I work on and try to do research on after the kids go to bed at night. I check my phone before bed, and then I turn on  “DO NOT DISTURB” so I can sleep.  There are many jobs that don’t use computers constantly. My fiance’ actually works on machinery and he isn’t on the screen near as much as I am.

When we look at a screen for long periods of time, we find that our eyes are having to strain to focus. There is something that I have recently been diagnosed with and that is Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS.  This is eye strain from prolonged use of a computer. One thing that my optometrist told me was that when we are focused on a task on the computer for long periods of time, we don’t blink very often, which dries out our eyes. She suggested a few things that you can do to make sure that you are proactive in protecting your eyes. Those things include:

  1. Putting a warm compress on your eyes for about 5 minutes and then gently massage your eyelids to assist in the release of oils that keep your tears lubricating your eyes instead of evaporating.
  2. 20/20/20. We’ve probably all heard of this, but for every 20 minutes you are looking at a screen, you are supposed to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps your eyes reduce strain from focusing constantly on the screen.

Blue light, which is what we get from screen time, can prematurely age your eyes.  Now there are many benefits of blue light and we do need those benefits in our lives. However, everything in moderation is key.  By taking some time out of your day, and devoting it to coloring, you are allowing your eyes to relax and focus on something real instead of a screen. I make sure that I create something during lunch periods so that I give my eyes that time to relax and recover from the morning. By creating again at night, I am trying to be proactive in the repair and maintenance of my own eyes.

In conclusion, the benefits far outweigh the costs when it comes to adult coloring books. Investing in Adult Coloring Books is an investment in your own health, mentally and physically. Take it from me, I have personally felt the effects of adult coloring and it is awesome. Join me in this world of enlightenment.

Tell me what your thoughts are on the benefits or disadvantages to adult coloring. I would love to hear what you have to teach me, as I love learning from my readers.

Adult Coloring Books – Cost

I absolutely love adult coloring books and I have so many I probably will never color them all, but I always see ones that I want so bad. I love coloring books of all skill levels. If you want to get into adult coloring books, there are some inexpensive ways you can do this.

  1. Dollar Stores: Almost all the dollar stores have a section with adult coloring books. You will look to spend $1-$5 on each book and the quality is very similar to children’s coloring books. The pages aren’t bright white, the images are printed on both sides of the paper and the paper weight isn’t very high. I recommend you use coloring pencils or crayons only.
  2. Hollar.com : This is my personal referral link, so if you use it, I do get the same amount that anyone does if they refer someone to the website.  I have been using this website for about a year now and they have just grown so much. I probably buy something monthly, at least, from this site. They have an adult coloring book section here too. If you buy the $2 coloring books, they are similar in quality to the dollar store ones, however, if you buy the $5 or more coloring books, they are of a heavier weighted paper and you can use pens and maybe even markers as long as the image isn’t printed on both sides of the paper. This collection is growing and ever-changing, so there is something new almost every time I look. I have a lot of these.
  3. Massive chain stores: (Target, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc.) These stores have a large variety when it comes to coloring books. I enjoy the differences in quality and I love that I can just pick something up when I’m in the mood for something different. The differences are so vast, you will just have to see what will work better for you.
  4. Internet: (Amazon, Overstock, Ebay, etc) These websites have a large variety as well. The price ranges are so vast. The only problem I see with this is if you don’t know much about the seller, there are chances for you to get a less quality item than was advertised. However, the prices can be better than the brick and mortar chain stores listed above.
  5. Straight from the artist!  This is my #1 way to get coloring books. Find some artists from all over the world that you can support. Follow them on Social Media and definitely buy their books over the mass-produced ones listed above. I am a huge supporter of the small business artists and I want to support as many as I can. If you know someone you could recommend, I would like to make a running list of these artists and their sites. Although this may not be the most cost-effective way to go, it is the most supportive way to go.

Now, with all that being said, I would love to have your input as to your favorite place to go and get the adult coloring books you love to color in.