The power of mindfulness colouring is more than you could ever expect. From reducing stress levels to improving brain function, the benefits are incredible.
There are so many ways in which colouring can foster a healthy mind. Much like meditation, colouring intricate illustrations and shapes can help focus your mind.
By leaving everything from outside that moment in time behind, you are able to alleviate stress and quiet any bad thoughts you might be having.
If you have thought about mindfulness colouring but don’t really know where to start, read on to find out all about the benefits.
Mindfulness colouring – what is it?
Mindfulness colouring is a great therapeutic tool that’s a little different to regular colouring. It centres around colouring in pre-drawn pictures, which allows your mind to suspend its inner dialogue and rather focus on the activity at hand.
The process of mindfulness colouring is similar to meditation or yoga. We leave behind what no longer serves us, and we leave any negative thoughts we had before we began the practice to melt away. It really helps improve your mental health in so many ways.
The more you practice mindfulness colouring, the more you will have the ability to leave any thoughts of yesterday or tomorrow behind and focus on the present task. For example, concentrating on picking the right colour and staying in between the lines
How it can foster a healthy mind – the benefits of mindfulness colouring
Using mindfulness colouring can help you foster a healthy mind, just as meditation or yoga does. Focusing on your breath, your thoughts, emotions, and the sensations you feel in that moment can seriously improve your way of thinking.
Mindfulness colouring has been proven to reduce and improve a number of things:
Anxiety and stress
By disconnecting from our thoughts and concentrating on colouring, mindfulness colouring has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress as it calms the brain and helps your body relax.
The names of these colouring books speak for themselves. They often have names such as Anti-Stress Therapy for Busy People and Colour Me Calm; the goal is in the name.
Studies showed that colouring in patterns like mandalas are the best for anxiety as they are more intricate and require more concentration.
Fatigue
Mindfulness colouring has also been proven to help get a good night’s sleep. It reduces the heart rate and can actually alleviate body aches.
If you swap out scrolling through your phone for a colouring book, you are guaranteed to have a better sleep at night. Doing this allows your body to release melatonin naturally.
Focus
For those who struggle with focus, whether you have a condition or not, mindfulness colouring is a really useful tool to improve your ability to focus.
When you colour, you activate the frontal lobe of your brain. This means that you are naturally organising, quick-thinking, and problem-solving. If you practice regular colouring, you can leave the day behind and focus on one thing.
Brain function
In mindfulness colouring, you relax your brain and quiet your mind. When you’re colouring, you are only focused on one thing. Different parts of your brain’s cerebral hemispheres are activated, improving brain function and motor skills.
What do they look like? – mindfulness colouring books often have beautiful, intricate shapes
Mindfulness colouring sheets and books often consist of patchwork-type images. The books are full of tons of soothing images that require our complete and total concentration.
They consist of individual patterns, geometric patterns, intricate patterns, and more. The sophisticated designs, whatever shape they may take, are like a form of anti-stress art therapy.
The stunning illustrations, along with our beautiful colouring in, are the result of us letting our imposing thoughts go and focusing on the task at hand.
Who can benefit from mindfulness colouring? – incredible benefits for all
Mindfulness colouring can benefit literally everyone. It has numerous benefits for child development, particularly as an incredible tool for children with anxiety.
By focusing on a task that has a predictable ending with little to no room for error, the simplicity of colouring can help anxious children feel calm and relaxed.
While they are a great activity for children, they are also fantastic for adults. Focusing on colouring in has the ability to relax the fear centre of the brain, the amygdala.
Like meditation, colouring in generates quiet mindfulness. It’s a great tool for winding down after a long and stressful day at work.
Notable mentions
Pocket-sized adult colouring books: For those of us who are constantly on the move and don’t necessarily have the space to sit down and colour in full images, pocket-sized versions are perfect for those on the go.
Mindfulness workbooks: Mindfulness workbooks are encouraged for children so they can associate the act of doing school work with something calming.
Writing skills: Practicing mindfulness colouring, and colouring in general, is a great way to develop early writing skills as your fingers are more nimble and active.
FAQs about mindfulness colouring
Can colouring in help mindfulness?
Colouring in is very much like meditation. By carefully choosing which colour to pick and focusing on staying inside the lines, we allow ourselves to be entirely aware and mindful of that current moment.
How can I practice mindful colouring?
Start by choosing a colouring book that catches your eye. There are many different options out there, from geometric shapes to flower arrangements and more. Once you choose a style that works for you, you’ll be in full swing.
What are the benefits of colouring for children?
Colouring is a great task for children and can be a great resource for kids who can’t seem to focus. It’s a great tool in early child development, and, just like adults, it can keep children calm and relaxed.