The HEALING Power of Coloring for Self-Care
In our increasingly busy lives, self-care can find itself getting pushed to the bottom of our priority list. While there are countless ways to practice self-care, one that is gaining attention is colouring. That's right, coloring isn't just for kids anymore! In fact, coloring has been shown to have therapeutic benefits and is a simple and accessible way to practice self-care.
Stress Relief
Studies show that coloring can have a significant impact on mental health. In particular, it can help reduce anxiety and depression, lower our heart rate and blood pressure, and even improve our sleep. It’s a simple and effective way to manage stress, especially when we’re feeling overwhelmed. Plus, coloring can be done just about anywhere and requires minimal supplies, making it a convenient option for stress relief on-the-go.
Creative Expression
Another benefit of coloring is its ability to be a form of creative expression. There are no set rules: you can choose colors and patterns that appeal to you, making it a personal and customized experience.
It allows us to tap into our creativity and create something beautiful. Even if we don’t consider ourselves “artistic,” coloring can be a way to explore color combinations, experiment with different mediums, and create something that is uniquely our own. It’s a low-pressure way to engage in creativity and express ourselves, and I’m a firm believer that this is absolutely universal: everyone is creative, whether they believe it or not.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment. When we color, we’re focused on the task at hand and not distracted by our thoughts or worries. It’s a way to be fully present and engaged in a calming and relaxing activity. By focusing on the colors and patterns in front of us, we can quiet our minds and experience a sense of peace and relaxation.
The Power of Color
The colors we choose to work with contribute hugely to the whole process, as color in itself is an incredibly powerful tool for self care and studies have proven that color can have a physiological impact on us. For example, coloring with blue can lower the pulse rate and body temperature, promoting physical sensations of calm, whereas being exposed to or wearing red can cause elevated blood pressure, increased metabolism, heart rate and respiration rate. All of these physiological changes naturally cause your energy levels to spike.
What this means is that as well as the activity of coloring being an excellent tool for self-care, we can also harness the qualities of the colors we use whilst coloring to promote the feelings we want.
Additional Benefits
In addition to stress relief, creative expression, and mindfulness, coloring has been shown to have a variety of other benefits as well. For example, it can improve fine motor skills, increase our ability to concentrate, and even boost our mood.
Plus, coloring is a great way to connect with others. Whether it's coloring with friends or joining a coloring group, it can be a fun and social way to practice self-care.
conclusion
Coloring is a simple and accessible way to practice self-care with a huge variety of benefits. It can help us manage stress, express ourselves creatively, be more mindful, improve our fine motor skills, increase our ability to concentrate, boost our mood, and connect with others - It can be done alone or in a group setting, making it a social activity that can be enjoyed with friends or family.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need some time to unwind, coloring can be a great addition to your self-care routine.
I have a FREE printable coloring for self-care workbook, so if reading this article has convinced you to give coloring a try, this is a great, free way to get started, right now!
