Coloring is Just not for kids, as an adult, I love to color. It is something that I use when I feel a bit stressed. Usually, I will use music to help me de-stress. But most times it will be a combination of both. I love my coloring so much that I bought myself a bunch of coloring books.
How Many Books Is Too Much?
It is all up to what you want, I know it is really hard to have just one. There is so many books out there and to choose from. You can even go as far as–
- Theme you like: Nature, animals, hobbies and interests and even Fantasy. Humor, Horror and novelty. Cozy color books.
- Or for a target audience: Children, Adult and even teen books. Even some just for seniors.
- Some for Purpose: Skill building-helping you practice on blending, shading and colors.
Coloring Books Come in Different Formats
- Perforated Pages —for easy removal of the page
- Single-sided pages —made for markers that may bleed through.
- Spiral-bound-–easy to lay down flat and no need to press down.
- Postcard —they come perforated for gifting or to frame.
What do I own and what are they?
I do own many books and all different varieties. I have some
- Holiday–Christmas- I have 3 books. One of them are Archie Comic book and Johanna Basford one too.
- Halloween— Archie coloring books/
- Johanna Basford books,—cause I love the way all of her books look. So much detail on each page. That is what I look for when I choose a book to buy-is how much detail is on the page, cause I won’t pick a book with very little happening on the pages.
- Dr Seuss–I found in a Pharmacy store. It did cost a bit, but now that I think about it I have not come across that book again.
- Randoms—no real theme, just liked the pages inside.
- Kerby Rosanes Books—Animorphia, Geomorphia, Imaginorphia. Great detailed scenes with animals and they morph into other elements. Also, have hidden images to find inside the book.
- Spiral Books—I found a collection of books, that are longer in length and have great images.
So some books I get are just ones that I randomly find and love. Basically they speak or I am drawn to them. I know I was meant to get that book. And yes I still have them.
Color When you Feel Like it
I used to used color books only when I knew what I was doing. Then those ones I am saving till my coloring gets better, as I am still practicing and learning the colors. Which is a great experience too. So I have books that I use to practice my skills on, and some just to random color. No real thought in my colors, this is how I discover what works and what doesn’t.
Then I decided forget about coloring just for practice but for:
- I am in the mood to
- when I want to de-stress and just have some me time
- Me time is a big one
- just to color and explore the colors
- freedom
So no longer thinking I will only color in them when I am good. How will I get good if I don’t just color. My skills get better when I do the task more, so that is how I look at this now. Yes, it makes me feel relaxed and more calm.
Love to Color in Coloring Books!!
When you were a kid, you just colored and gave it no thought. Just pulled out those crayons and started on a page you liked. Why is it so hard now to pull out a book and color?
Some of my books I have for my practice, and I realized that I do not practice as much as I thought I would. So now those books are regular coloring books for me to color. I no longer have practice books I color in all my books. Whatever my mood is that day.
Go ahead and color whenever the mood strikes you. Place a book near your desk, and have it ready when you are. I am thinking I will have a couple gel pens ready for me when the mood strikes me. Your eyes will be thankful for the break from the computer. And your mind will be too, cause you can step back from that stress. When you need a moment-just take that moment for yourself. I know I am glad that I do.
Coloring has Benefits
- Stress Relief—the repetitive action, and focus helps you to be more relaxed and calm.
- Mindfulness—you are concentrating on picking and choosing colors. Focus on the page your working. You are not thinking of other stresses in your day.
- Be Creative and Expressive—unplug from devices, childhood memories, easy to do, and love when you finish a page.
Studies show that when adults color that they are better problem solvers. Work better under stress, and better hand to eye coordination. It is a great way to stop and take a break from work, even though it is computer work. I still need a break to get my thoughts together.
Sometimes, I just can’t think of what to write and have hit a mental block. That’s when I pull out a coloring book and color for 10 minutes or so. Using just my gel pens and find my book for that, which is right at my desk. This sure does help me to make it through my day. I take a moment and just be creative for as little as 10 min/day. I found that this does work for me and may work for you also. I have to remind myself to make time to color and de-stress myself. And this is how I do just that.
Coloring is Great For Adults too
NO one ever said that it was just for kids, but do you see how they are so calm. Compared to us adults who are always stressed out, we need to use these skills to calm us down. We always forget to take a moment and just relax and calm down. No rush to get it all done, you can take a moment and relax, then pick it up again. Use gel pens or markers, whichever you feel comfortable with. I even just have a small page I pick up and doodle on or have one marker just for coloring all blue items.
But, no matter what you use to color in your book. The point is to just get out there and color and try to relax and maybe destress a bit. This is to help you learn to calm down and relax and just focus on coloring. Helps to clear your mind and your own head space. Stop your thinking and just focus on one task your doing. Love it and I suggest you give it a try.
Adults that color are more relaxed! Adults that color is more creative, calmer, and overall happier. I even set up a place to just color and be creative. Realized that this has helped me to see more clearer and focus more better. Calmed be down and I am not so stressed anymore.
If you are looking for a way to take a productive break that will help to fuel your creative juices coloring may be just the thing you need.
When you create a picture from coloring you take the time to pick out the colors you need. What you are gonna color at that time. You focus on what you are doing right then. Not what is going on around you. A good way to shut out the rest of the world. To Stop thinking of all the To-Do things you have for the day/week.
Helps You To Be Productive
This not only helps you to be productive at your work but also helps you to stay productive in what you need to get done in your day. We all need that downtime, for whatever purpose. So maybe, you want to take a bubble bath, but not just right now. This could be just what you need for the time being.
Enjoy coloring whenever you feel like coloring. It is fun to do and we all know how to color. Remember coloring is just not for kids. I have many coloring books and my own little collection. I love buying new ones when they came out. But now, I have so many books that I have not even opened. So now to get busy coloring them and to learn to use my colors also. YouTube has been a great help for that, while I watch some others color too. I work beside them and choose the similar colors they do and work my page along with their ideas. Works for me.
So whenever you need a moment for yourself. Why not just pull out a coloring book and some felts or pencil crayons. Color till you finish your page, or just til you feel better. Coloring is GOOD. I have found it is very helpful. I know I need to get back into coloring again, and start watching YouTube again for inspiration.