The benefits of coloring books

Photo by Customerbox on Unsplash

Edited by Rachel Heung

For some people, they play sports to relieve stress and relax. But for others, they turn to coloring books. Not only are coloring books fun, they also bring many health benefits!

Coloring books can reduce anxiety and stress. The amygdala is the part in your brain that causes the emotion of fear, and coloring has the ability to relax this part. It reduces the restlessness in your mind, inducing a state of meditation. Quietness and mindfulness is generated which allows rest and relaxation after a busy day. An effective way of lowering your heart rate is by coloring for 20 minutes or more. According to a study, coloring more intricate designs is more effective than a simple pattern or a blank page.

Coloring can also improve motor skills, vision, sleep, and focus. It requires the two sides of the brain to communicate while coloring inside the lines and choosing colors. A creative thought process is also generated while choosing colors. Instead of using electronics at night, coloring will keep your level of sleep hormone unaffected, causing you to have better quality of sleep. While coloring, the frontal lobe which controls communication and problem solving is activated, this allows you to focus on coloring and push everything else aside.

In conclusion, coloring is a great way to spend your time to unwind and relax after a stressful long day or when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Pick a coloring book that you like, choose your coloring medium, and color away!

Bibliography

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2022, from https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/blogs/

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Taylor, M. (2021, August 11). Adult Coloring Books: 7 Benefits of Coloring.

WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/benefits-coloring-adults

3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain. (2020, May 27).

Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/

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