Stress levels are at an all-time high on college campuses, and they are still rising. College students are doing anything they can to help alleviate their ascending stress levels, regrettably they are unable to do so in the most productive or healthy ways. Students are resorting to all kinds of self-prescribed treatments to help with their stress levels. These homemade remedies range from binge watching Netflix to eating themselves into oblivion (hence the freshman 15).

Therapeutic coloring has been an up and coming stress relief for adults. According to Dana Dovery of the "Medical Daily," coloring helps to produce a relaxed state of mind, reducing the anxiety level of an individual. With a reduced anxiety level, it makes it much easier for said individual to focus on his/her assignment.

I heard of therapeutic coloring in the past, but I was never fully convinced of the legitimacy of said pastime. It wasn't until I saw it in full swing did I begin to understand the complexity involved and the affects it had on people.

Confusion struck me, to say the least, when I walked into my dorm to see my 18-year-old and 19-year-old roommates sitting on a bed, busily coloring together. Admittedly, I found it very amusing. I registered coloring in my mind as a childish pastime, with little to no positive affects on someone. However, after further observation, something changed for the better in my room. Everyone appeared much more positive, the all around vibes in my room completely changed. The three of us no longer bickered about petty things, like the trash being fully or the sink being cluttered. As I left my room today, the two of them were both working together, helping each other clean the shared areas of our room.

My roommates explained that the two of them felt much more relaxed and calm, as well as increasingly more creative. The colors and patterns seemed to offer a sense of order that can greatly benefit a college student, or any individual, that may lack it in their daily, chaotic lives. It offers an escape from grueling everyday tasks. Admittedly, it gives you something to focus on and can act as a healthy, constructive break from studying.

Although it doesn't appear to be the most intense or adult-oriented way to spend one's free time, coloring can help some reduce their stress levels, ultimately leading to more productivity and success.