Remember when you were little and coloring books were your favorite thing ever? Well, like any good trend, coloring books are making a comeback and this time, they aren't just for kids. Adult coloring books are all the rage and they are good for more than just entertaining you for an hour or two.
Believe it or not, adult coloring isn't something new. In the early 1900's, Carl Jung, a noted psychiatrist, prescribed coloring to many of his adult clients to help them calm their minds and relieve stress. Sounds perfect for the college student, am I right?
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Not only can coloring help calm you down, relieve stress, and help you focus, but it also makes you smarter. The intellectual benefits of coloring range from improving organizational and problem solving skills to increasing creativity. According to an article in the Huffington Post, "Coloring utilizes both hemispheres of the brain, right and left. When we are thinking about balance, color choices, applying colored pencil to paper, we are working on problem solving and fine motor skills."
Now the type of coloring book I'm talking about is not your average Disney princess or My Little Pony coloring book. Adult coloring books have much more complex patterns with intricate details that challenge your brain and require more concentration. According to the article, "Our frontal lobes are responsible for these higher level activities and functions of the brain, and coloring detailed pictures activates all those properties. Think of considering complex color schemes, and using the brain to balance and make the picture aesthetically pleasing."
Coloring is the perfect relaxation tool for after a long day of classes, work, and other stressful activities. Personally, I also like coloring as a replacement for binge-ing on Netflix or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram for hours. Coloring takes our eyes away from the screens that are constantly in front of us and allows us to escape reality for just a little bit. The simple act of coloring can also take us back to our childhood before everything was so complicated. It helps us remember the simple things in life. And who doesn't want to pretend they are five years old for a few hours?
Adult coloring books can be found in stores at Target, Michaels, Barnes and Noble, and other similar store. They can also be purchased online on Amazon and other sites. Some sites will even let you personalize your coloring book and there's even a curse words coloring book called "F*uck It Lets Color," if kaleidoscopes and complex patterns aren't for you.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get coloring!
