Try Meditative Coloring Pages to Help Relieve Stress and Anxiety
Most of us know coloring as a childish activity involving crayons and an OCD-like urge to stay within boundaries. But according to a small study, adult coloration can really relieve stress. This is why you can try.
There are several theories about why coloration might help someone relax and “meditate”: it repeats itself, takes you into the present moment, and allows you to do something relaxing in an almost trance-like state, easily removing other distractions. When you paint, you focus on it and let your worries float in and out like in meditation. So, coloring can be a good option for people who want to meditate but cannot meditate.
While there is not much research yet on “painting as meditation,” a study published in the Journal of the American Association for Art Therapy involved 84 college students and examined the effects on their anxiety after coloring three types of paintings: mandalas. , checkered pattern or blank paper. The results showed that people in the mandala and plaid groups experienced greater reductions in anxiety than people in the blank slate group. The researchers suggested that coloring “a sufficiently complex geometric pattern could induce a meditative state that benefits people with anxiety.”
If you are wondering if you can achieve a meditative state or even just relieve stress, you can download mandala patterns here or check out the list of the most unusual Mental Floss coloring books for adults .
Can coloring the mandala reduce anxiety? | Journal of the American Art Therapy Association