Divorce and Stress.
Divorce is often ranked as one of the most stressful life events—second only to the death of a spouse. Personally, I see an unwanted divorce as being like a form of death with intent, making it deeply painful. Stress from such experiences can significantly impact both your health and well-being. With this in mind, I’m starting a series on stress relief focused on finding ways to ease the stress and anxiety that come with separation and divorce.
Coloring and Stress Relief
You may have noticed how adult coloring books have surged in popularity recently. A few years ago, I started seeing ads promising stress relief through the simple act of pulling out your colored pencils and bringing life to the pages of a coloring book.
I did a bit of research and found many saying the following about coloring;
Adult coloring has become a popular way to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. It acts like a simple, calming activity that helps you enter a “flow state,” calming the brain’s fear center, lowering anxiety, and encouraging mindfulness by focusing your attention on the present moment. This creative break from daily stress offers your mind a chance to relax and recharge.
According to Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, coloring promotes mindfulness by helping you concentrate on the here and now. It can reduce stress and anxiety by releasing feel-good chemicals and calming the part of the brain that manages fear. Focusing on coloring helps distract you from negative thoughts while allowing your creativity to flow and your body and mind to relax.
Additionally, coloring is often used in art therapy to support emotional healing and has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms. It can even improve sleep quality and boost energy levels, making it a gentle and enjoyable way to care for your overall wellness. By focusing on coloring, even for a short time, you give your mind a break from stress and invite calm, happiness, and balance into your day.
Let’s give coloring a try.
The Experiment.
I already had a coloring book on hand, so I decided to use it for my experiment. I ordered colored pencils from Amazon and picked up a small pencil sharpener—which I quickly realized is essential, as not being able to sharpen your pencils can add unnecessary stress to the experience.
I chose a picture with an encouraging quote.
The Process
During my first try at coloring for stress relief, I spent about 25 minutes focused on the task. While it didn’t change the stressors in my life, it gave me moments to breathe as my attention shifted to the colors and patterns. One night when sleep evaded me, instead of worrying, I found myself quietly imagining color combinations for my art project.
For me, the sweet spot for coloring as stress relief is about 15 to 20 minutes—any longer, and it stops feeling relaxing. Of course, everyone’s different. When I’m writing and start feeling fatigued, I’ll switch to my coloring book for a few minutes—it helps relax my mind and gets me ready to dive back into work.
In Conclusion
Will coloring become part of my routine? I’d say yes, sometimes, though probably not every day. When I’m at home writing and need a quick break, coloring for a few minutes helps me recharge and get back to work feeling refreshed.
How about you? Have you ever tried coloring to de-stress? If you want to relax and take a break, give it a shot. And if you do, I’d love to hear how it worked for you—just drop a note in the comment box!
God Bless You On Your Journey
KathieyV