As we prepare to return for another school year, many of us prepare for the amount of stress that we will have to under take that comes with it. A new semester means new classes, new professors, new assignments and using every amount of time possible to get a good grade to pass the class. As an art major I am often told "But being an art major is so easy!" or "All you do is draw. What is so stressful about that?" I can assure you being an art major is just as (if not more) stressful than any other major in college, but that’s a story for another time.
Getting back on track, as college students cope with stress and anxiety as a new school year begins, many find ways to relax. There are so many things one can do to feel more relaxed. Meditation, yoga, breathing, sleeping and listening to music are some of the more traditional ways of dealing with stress. Screaming into the void is another way of dealing with stress. I, however, discovered a new way of de-stressing in a fun and colorful way that I would like to share with all of you.
Did you know there are coloring books for adults?! When shopping at my local Barnes and Noble recently I stumbled upon a book entitled “The Mindfulness Coloring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People” by Emma Farrarons. Having not picked up a coloring book in years, I skimmed through the pages to see what was inside and was amazed by the beautiful and detailed black and white prints on the inside. The last time I colored in a coloring book I was probably in the first or second grade, so finding this little book was fantastic. I find I am a person who gets stressed easily, and occasionally suffers from anxiety, and my artistic side was telling me "Do it. Do it. You know you want to color in a coloring book, so DO IT!" I had heard that coloring was a way to relax and the book was relatively inexpensive ($9.95 to be exact) so I bought it and brought it home with me.
I told myself I would only use the book if I felt stressed out and didn’t want to talk about my feelings and placed the book on top of a box of colored pencils. The first time I colored in it, I was truly amazed by how soothing and calming it was to color again. No one was telling me to shade a certain side or warn me that two colors should not go together. The colors that flowed from my mind through the pencils were amazing and this was the result of the first pages.
After the first one turned out amazingly I decided that this would be my go-to-book and method for de-stressing. Below are more results from my need to de-stress.
I highly recommend this book to middle school, high school, and college students. I would also recommend this to adults who live busy lives and need to find something to unwind and relax to that will not cost too much time or money. What I love most about these little books is that you can create whatever you want and you can choose to share your art with others or keep it to yourself. If you feel your life would benefit from having this book, I recommend going to your local Barnes and Noble or book shop and see if they have adult anti-stress coloring books. So channel your inner child and give coloring a chance!
