To understand mindful coloring, we first have to understand mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of doing anything while being in the present moment. It means not thinking about the past or the future. For instance, you may be having a conversation with a friend, but you’re thinking about what to eat for dinner while they talk. Being mindful means focusing on what you are doing right now without being distracted by other things. So, what is mindful coloring? It’s focusing on coloring and enjoying the single experience of creating something in the moment. What are the benefits of mindful coloring?
Relieve Stress & Anxiety
Doing anything mindfully can relieve stress and anxiety. If you’re able to be in the moment without focusing on the past or worrying about the future, you’re able to let go of any of life’s stresses. Very few of the things that we worry about are actually happening in the moment. Our brains tend to make up fears and stories that don’t benefit us. Coloring is a great way to begin your mindfulness journey because you are able to focus on a single task in front of you rather than sitting silently in meditation. It’s best to find a quiet space with little distractions. Put away your phone and turn off the tv or radio and focus solely on the task of coloring. If distracting thoughts pop up, tell them, “Not now, I’m coloring” and continue what you’re doing.
Practice Focus & Concentration
By focusing on one item at a time, like coloring, you are practicing directing your focus and concentration. Your brain can be treated like a muscle; with enough practice and exercise it becomes stronger. Focusing on one task isn’t easy. We live in a world full of distractions. I once found myself watching TV, playing a game on my phone, and looking at something on my computer and I was bored. We are often over stimulated and our brains have trouble focusing on single tasks.
Improve Motor Skills
Coloring can help improve fine motor skills. This is extremely helpful for children but can also be applied to adults. Developing fine motor skills in children is important and can help them build confidence. For children and adults, it can also help with strength in one’s hands. Coloring is a fun way to work on hand eye coordination for kids without it feeling like a chore.
Ignite Creativity
Coloring is a great way to ignite creativity. While many people may not know where to start with an art project, coloring is a simple way to express oneself without feeling overwhelmed by an art project. While coloring may seem simple, you could give 10 different people the same coloring page and each one would turn out unique. Expressing oneself through creativity can help people become better at problem solving, and help them to think outside of the box. It helps people express themselves and can help encourage people to ask questions. It keeps the mind active and helps to spark joy.
Improve Sleep
Being mindful is about slowing down your brain and focusing on one thing at a time. Many people have difficulty falling asleep because they are worried about too many things. By being able to slow down and shut off those intruding thoughts, one can fall asleep easier. Coloring before bed can lead to a more relaxed state of mind. I’m often guilty of playing games on my phone. They are usually problem-solving games which wakes up my brain and makes me think too much. Choosing calming activities before bed and shutting off electronics can help you fall asleep faster.
Overall Mental Health Boost
Mindful coloring can give an overall mental health boost for all the reasons mentioned above. Relieving anxiety and stress is such a huge part of modern life. Being able to slow your brain and focus and concentrate on single tasks is important. Opening up your mind to be creative can help bring joy into your life in a simple way. All of these things can help improve your mood and help you to feel more balanced.
Have you tried mindful coloring? Let me know what you thought.
You may be interested in my adult coloring pages including insect mandalas, ocean mandalas and bird mandalas!
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