did you know
color !
bring
back into your life
As a young adult , I am constantly torn between two different identities : being young , and being an adult . Life seemed so much better when my days were spent playing hide-and-seek with my friends , taking a midday nap , and drinking as much apple juice as I wanted . Most of my favorite activities I did as a child would be frowned upon as an adult . Luckily for me , recent studies are showing that there is one childhood activity that has major health benefits for adults , too .
16 HACHEALTHCLUB . COM by Katie Cardner
Over the past year , there has been a huge emergence of adult coloring books . Although coloring may feel like fun and games , it has actually been proven to have significant benefits for our health . Here is a breakdown of what coloring can do for you :
TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Coloring has been shown to decrease stress levels in adults in many different ways . The act of coloring reminds our brains of simpler times . Relating back to childhood allows our brains to relate to a time when we experienced much less stress .
IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION
When we color , we are focused on two different things . One of which is staying in the lines ( or at least trying to ). This function allows the left side of our brains to do analytical thinking . On the other end , choosing different colors to make patterns and designs taps into our creative thinking , which is accomplished by the right side of the brain . A study published in 2013 found that using both sides of our brain simultaneously can improve the connection between both hemispheres . It has been noted that evolutionists like Albert Einstein had a stronger connection between both hemispheres of his brain than the average man .
HELPS DEVELOP MEDITATIONAL TENDENCIES
Meditation has been known to have significant health benefits for thousands of years .
To put it simply , meditation is the art of doing nothing ; letting your brain be completely still . Coloring helps us tap into that practice . When coloring , we are only able to focus on what is in front of us , blocking out all other thoughts and distractions .
EXPRESS YOURSELF
Coloring allows us to relax . We are able to express our moods through the colors we choose , which allows us to understand our emotions . Many therapists today require patients to spend time coloring before starting their typical treatment .
So pull out your crayons and act like a kid again ! Not only will you have a great time , but you may just start to feel more colorful yourself .