In the world of college students and even the actual real world of real adults, stress levels are at a record high. People are anxious over work, jobs, family, friends, and more and the seemingly impossible task of attempting to balance it all and still get enough sleep and be happy. It seems there is always a "new way" to conquer our stress, but they're really never enough. I know as a college student, I can't even count the amount of times I have heard someone say, "Wow, I wish I was a little kid again." Think about it -- are little kids stressed? Sure, maybe they get worked up over play dates and not getting to play with the game of his or her choice, but all in all, their lives are a lot more stress free than ours. Have you ever seen a 6 year old holding a coloring book that looks worried? Probably not. The summer before my freshman year of college, I had seen all kinds of "stress relieving" coloring books, with intricate designs and even places for you to doodle. It wasn't until the end of my freshman year that I actually purchased a stress relieving coloring book. Now in 2016, adult coloring books are all the rage, and you can get them in any theme anywhere. If you buy one thing this week, make it a coloring book.

1. Art has healing qualities.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, "Coloring books provide a controlled, contained use of art for self-soothing purposes, and their success-oriented nature is conducive to fulfillment of the need for instant gratification." In a world where our generation is obsessed with instant gratification, obtaining "likes" on a selfie, or getting an instant text back, coloring is the perfect outlet. In historial times, art had always been used as a benifical activity in all cultures. In fact, art therapists repeatedly give there patients coloring books or paper to draw and doodle on. Therapists use them to "support focusing and stress reduction". If the experts support it, why shouldn't you try it?

2. Doodling improves your memory.

My favorite line of coloring books not only has intricate designs that you can color, but it also leaves space for doodles and drawing your own lines in. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, doodling has been proven to help people stay focuses, retain new information, and grasp new concepts better. As a child, I constantly was filling sketchbooks and notepads up with doodles and designs, remaining focused on these drawings for hours on end. I never realized that this hobby of mine would actually help me later on in life. For college students, memory and focus is vital in learning new information and studying for exams. Lots of students struggle to remember facts, and if coloring can help them, I think that is the best memory trick there is. Doodling is considered a great way for people to organize their thoughts, and organization is key to living a stress-free life.

3. Adult coloring books allow for less screen time.

Our entire lives are centered around our phones, tablets, computers, and televisions. It is nearly impossible to go even an hour or two without some form of technology in our face. The constant exposure to the screens can cause massive headaches, and even eye problems. Studies also show that the harsh blue light that comes from our cell phones and computers is actually ruining our sleep quality, and preventing us from falling asleep in the first place. Netflix is probably one of the most popular bed time rituals, but coloring can be a much better alternative. By staying away from screens, we're helping our health in both the short and long run.

4. Coloring is a very inexpensive hobby.

The adult coloring book world has exploded over the past few months, meaning that there are hundreds if not thousands of variations that you can get your hands on. While some larger and hard cover coloring books can be anywhere over $30, most craft and book stores offer them for much cheaper, some being only $8. All you need are some colored pencils, pens, or crayons, and you're good to go.

5. Adult coloring books offer a large variety of designs and themes.

When we were little it seems like the only options we had for coloring books were ponies, princesses, action figures, or fairies. There was no real variety. However, adult coloring books have all sorts of different themes to choose from. Whether you want a Harry Potter style coloring book, an underwater scene, wildlife, animals, mandalas, and more, there is a coloring book for that. You can order them online or pick them up form the store. The designs all vary too. While some books boast more intricate and detailed drawings, others have larger areas to color, so you don't need to worry about accidentally coloring outside of the lines. There is a coloring book for everyone, which is further proof you need to buy one.

6. It can help treat insomnia.

I suffer from anxiety induced insomnia, and nearly every night I struggle to get even four or five hours of sleep. I have tried practically every vitamin and medication there is, but there are some nights where I just don't fall asleep at all. Since I purchased several adult coloring books, I have found a new way to relax my mind when it's 4 a.m. and I just can't get to sleep. While I do love reading, I've noticed that when I'm that sleep deprived reading only makes my headaches worse, and coloring seems to wind my brain down the best. Michael O'Mara's line of coloring books, my personal favorites, are designed in a color coded organization, and tell you what feelings are associated with each color. If you want to be cool and calm, you color the blue sections. He also has coloring books for different occasions, including an insomnia one. If you need helping sleeping at night, I highly recommend purchasing one of these books.

7. It allows you to be creative.

It's hard to allow our creative minds to flow when we're constantly swamped with work, papers, and exams. Unless you happen to be taking an art class, chances are you don't get much of an opportunity to be creative. Coloring books allow your creative mind to work and prosper. If you don't pride yourself as a very artistic person, no need to worry. Coloring provides the relief that a blank page would not necessarily offer. Too many options is overwhelming, but coloring allows you to work with just what's in front of you.

8. Seeing what you create is very satisfying.

Unless you have a hobby like sewing or woodwork, chances are you seldom get to physically see what your time and effort results in. Yes, studying can result in good grades, but you don't really get to see that, except for a mere grade given to you. With coloring, you get to see your thoughts and effort put into a tangible and beautiful piece, something you rarely see. While some pages take longer to color than others, I often find myself sitting at my desk for hours until I complete the picture, and then I am unbelievably happy and proud with what I have finished. These hours I put in are stress-free, they're distracting (in a good way), and result in a piece of art.

If none of these reasons have convinced you to purchase an adult coloring book, then you'll just have to trust me and see for yourself. There are so many different options and varieties of the type of book you can buy, it's hard not to buy them all (trust me, I've purchased several). Not only will you be reducing stress, but you'll be a lot happier too. An adult coloring book is quite possibly one of the best investments you will ever make.