Colouring in isn’t just for the kids.
Over the past few years there has been some research showing that colouring in can reduce stress and anxiety and also increase creativity in adults.
With COVID-19 related lockdowns regularly limiting our ability to do other stress-relieving activities, colouring in may just help fill a gap for some.
Colouring a mandala vs free form colouring
A US-based study gave 84 stressed out undergraduate students one of the following three to colour in:
A mandala
A plaid pattern
A blank piece of paper
The study found that colouring a mandala for 20 minutes is more effective at reducing anxiety than free-form colouring for 20 minutes.
Colouring vs reading
In a UK-based study, 47 undergraduate students were asked to colour in and read, and following some psychological tests, the researchers found that students reported being more content, energetic and calmer when they coloured in for 20 minutes, compared to reading for 20 minutes.
Colouring as a form of meditation
Are the results of these studies really so surprising? Activities that focus the mind, especially creative ones, have longed helped people feel relaxed and calm, even meditative.
For example, a study on knitters found that 80% of those with depression felt happier when they knitted.
According to the online resource Be Brain Fit, “colouring makes an excellent pre-bedtime ritual, and it’s healthier than common alternatives — answering emails, binge-watching favourite shows, catching up on social media, or reading on an e-reader.”
So grab a colouring in book and get started! We've got a gorgeous selection of books containing Armenian floral patterns, rosettes and scripts plus colouring gift sets. Check them out here.
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