Kathiey's Stress Relief Experiment. Let's Give Coloring a Try.

Divorce and Stress.

The stress of divorce ranks second on many stress scales just behind the death of a spouse.  Personally, I disagree with it being second because I see an unwanted divorce as "like a death but with intent."  Stress can have many adverse effects on your life and your health.  With this in mind, I will be doing a series on stress relief to see if we can at least diminish the stress and anxiety that go along with separation and divorce.

Coloring

I don't know if you have noticed that coloring books for adults have become very popular.
Several years ago I started to see ads for coloring books with the promise that stress relief could be found in the act of taking out your colored pencils and creating a work of art in the pages of a coloring book.
I did a bit of research and found many saying the following about coloring;
Coloring decreases stress because the focus is on the act of coloring and not on your problems. In other words, it takes our attention off or our stressors, even if only for a short time.
Coloring can quiet your mind thus helping you feel calmer, happier and more relaxed.
It can reduce anxiety and bring about mindfulness or focus on the present moment.

Coloring can help you unwind, decrease tension and some say it is a form of meditation. 

Let's give coloring a try.

The Experiment.

I already had a coloring book, and I decided to use that one for my experiment. I ordered colored pencils from Amazon and bought a small pencil sharpener.
(I believe a pencil sharpener is a must or the lack of the ability to sharpen your pencils could add more stress to your life.)

I chose a picture with an encouraging quote.

The Process

I spent about 25 minutes on my first attempt at coloring for stress relief.
It did not change anything concerning the stressors in my life, but it gave me moments to breathe because my focus was on the act of coloring.
One evening I could not sleep.  As I lay in bed, I did not find myself worrying, but I found myself thinking of color combinations for my art project.

The best time frame for me is about 15-20 minutes.
If I go much longer, it defeats the purpose for me because it is no longer relaxing.  I am sure the time frame is different for everyone.
I find that if I am writing and start to feel fatigued, I can turn to my coloring book.
It takes just a few minutes to "relax my mind" and then I am ready to get back to work.

In Conclusion

Will Coloring Become Part of My Routine?

I will say yes.  It will not be a daily thing for me but on those days when I am at home writing and I need a break I know I can color for a few minutes and be ready to start again.

How about you?  Have you tried coloring?  If you want to de-stress a bit, I suggest you give it a try.  If you do, I would love to hear your results.
Just let me know in the comment box.

May your day be a peaceful one!

KathieyV