According To Psychologists, Coloring Is The Best Alternative To Meditation

Really interesting article taken from a facebook post by leading Reflexologist Ziggie Bergman, read on:

This may seem an odd one but I have had really good feedback from the most unexpected of clients who tried this out. Helping clients to reduce stress in their daily lives and change their patterns sometimes requires a little creativity. Adult coloring books can be amazing for those who would never sit still to meditate and the benefits suggest coloring is a good alternative. This Aftercare advice supports the most important weekly Facial Reflexology or standard Reflexology treatments of course to help reduce stress.

As of the time of this publication, six of the top 20 selling books on Amazon are adult coloring books. Coloring is a hobby that we typically think only little toddlers and kindergartners would enjoy, but it turns out that even adults can benefit from it.
Coloring is a low-stress activity that allows an individual to unlock their creative potential. More importantly, it helps relieve tension and pent-up anxiety because it unlocks memories of childhood and simpler times. As psychologist Antoni Martínez explains to The Huffington Post, “I recommend it as a relaxation technique. We can use it to enter a more creative, freer state. I recommend it in a quiet environment, even with chill music. Let the color and the lines flow.”

Ben Michaelis, a psychologist, says, “There is a long history of people coloring for mental health reasons. Carl Jung [founder of psychology] used to try to get his patients to color in mandalas at the turn of the last century, as a way of getting people to focus and allow the subconscious to let go. Now we know it has a lot of other stress-busting qualities as well.”

Basically, if you are having a rough day at work or just a bad day in general, then feel free to take out some crayons or colored pencils and start coloring. As a parent with children, I’m sure that you will have some coloring books lying around the house. Pick one up and relax!