By Maya Koeppen ’17

What used to be a favorite childhood pastime is quickly emerging again as a new trend in the form of adult coloring books. Holding five of the top 10 bestselling spots on Amazon, these books have been quickly surging in popularity as a unique alternative to meditation. Books feature intricate designs of anything from nature to mandalas (diagram, chart, or geometric pattern of Indian origin) and are intended to de-stress the user through coloring. Despite their widespread popularity, few know of the actual science behind the books.

Although it is not considered a form of art therapy, coloring still has many healing qualities. Among coloring’s benefits is its ability to induce a state of focus and mindfulness in the individual that is similar to that of meditation. Dr. Stan Rodski, a neuropsychologist and author of his own line of coloring books, notes that this response stems from the details and repetition of patterns associated with coloring. Even so much as choosing whether or not to color the sun yellow or orange, gets the mind working. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for many of the decisions in one’s daily life, is served well by this series of insignificant choices; further allowing the “colorist” to enjoy an immense amount of self-control in the midst of their otherwise hectic and previously mapped-out schedules.

For individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and more, coloring could be just the prescription for these and a slew of other mental and emotional health issues as well. Focusing the mind on the carefree nature of coloring can help these individuals by diminishing their natural state of worry in a way that is both calming and productive. Probably one of the best example of this process in action is the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s prescription of coloring mandalas to his patients over a hundred years ago. Through further diagnoses, Jung became aware of the calming properties that are now attributed to coloring and he expressed a belief that mandalas, being more than just shapes, symbolize a deeper expression of oneself.

Aside from its therapeutic benefits, coloring is also found to have intellectual and physical benefits for the individual as well. Intellectually, the physical act of coloring can help with organizational and problem-solving skills. Coloring activates the frontal lobes in the brain, and the execution of complex color schemes to create aesthetically pleasing results trains the brain to think in a new and colorful way. Physically, coloring can suppress feelings of pain from a variety of diseases and enhance motor skills.

Coloring is a great way to take a break from the world and lose oneslf in the world of swirls, shapes, and colors. Such coloring books can be bought at many bookstores. So whether one has a big test coming up or one just needs some “me” time at the end of a long day, the best way to treat your brain and your body is to break out those pencils and get coloring.