So, midterm week is upon you, and you are likely either spending your time studying, sleeping, eating or going to classes to collect multiple review packets or study sheets. You don't have much time to do anything else, so you find yourself in a state of exhaustion, starvation and general stress and anxiety. Sleep and food deprivation are easily cured with the element they are deprived of, but the stress still remains. What do you do to relax and combat it, even just for a moment of free time? Numerous studies across the nation have recently linked the growing trend of coloring in "adult coloring books" to a distant form of art therapy.
It's something as easy as picking up a writing utensil and drawing. Whether you color inside the lines or not, there's something to be said about coloring as a method to reduce stress and calm your mind's every worry. According to a recent article in CNN, "Groundbreaking research in 2005 proved anxiety levels dropped when subjects colored mandalas, which are round frames with geometric patterns inside." The article references and provides at least five other sources to validate this solidly covered topic of study.
Even though adult coloring books are all the rage right now, many may think that studies of this kind that have come out recently are the first ones recorded. Think again. Dr. Nikki Martinez, a tele-health counselor for BetterHelp.com, adjunct professor, consultant and writer, states in her Huffington Post article that using the prescription of adult coloring stems all the way back to the days of psychologist Carl Jung. "Jung used it thinking it would help his patients access their subconscious and new self-knowledge. We now know that many psychologists suggest this to patients as an alternative to meditation, as a means of relaxation and as a calming tool. It can help the individual focus on the act of coloring intricate pictures for hours on end, vs. focusing on intrusive and troubling thoughts."
Acting as a tool for diversion, it's easy to lose track of time while participating in this activity. However, if you set a timer or complete a set number of drawings (or perhaps just one), you could find it a lot easier to focus on studying, reviewing material or any other task at hand. It can be as simple as coloring a flower or as complicated as drawing within the lines of an intricate mandala coloring sheet. Although the CNN article also notes that simple doodling had little to no effect on calming the brain.
Preconceived notions may tell you that only emotional and mental health benefits are reaped from coloring, but the facts might surprise you. Martinez also adds that coloring has intellectual perks (perfect for midterm week), and when you color, you are using both the left and right hemispheres of your brain, as well as your frontal lobes. In essence, coloring can aide you in so much more than fighting midterm or finals stress. There's plenty of options for suiting the coloring book to your taste as well. You might see popular coloring book sell outs, such as "Secret Garden" and "Lost Ocean", but there are many other niche ones, such as "Game of Thrones", "Doctor Who", "Harry Potter", and there's even one for swear words if midterms have really got you down.
