I'm not even sure what to say here. I can't decide if I want to laugh or cry. Well, here goes. This morning on The Ranch, I brought up this topic because I saw an article about colleges/universities offering their students coloring books to de-stress. OK, I know that the life of a college student, especially freshmen, can be a bit taxing, but for heaven sakes, they're not in Afghanistan.
This time of transitioning to college represents the natural next step in life and kids should have a "healthy" dose of anxiety and excitement. Geez, not every uncomfortable feeling needs to be "treated". Learn to tolerate a little stress, will ya'? Adulthood is a very tense time of life. Get ready. It lasts for about 50 years.
This time of transitioning to college represents the natural next step in life and kids should have a "healthy" dose of anxiety and excitement. Geez, not every uncomfortable feeling needs to be "treated". Learn to tolerate a little stress, will ya'? Adulthood is a very tense time of life. Get ready. It lasts for about 50 years.
Let's step back a minute. Coloring is usually thought of as a children's activity. It's designed to develop fine motor skills and social skills involved in sharing of resources (crayons, etc.) and gives kids some quiet time. But, coloring for adults? What's that about? Is it commercial hype or is it therapy?
In 2014, 1 million adult coloring books were sold. In 2015, 12 million were sold. Why?
Coloring clears the mind, relaxes the body and narrows the focus. It's an opportunity to distract from the chaos swirling around us. It's not an activity that is goal-oriented or requires masterful skills such as knitting or quilting and there is a minimal amount of materials. You can put it down at any time, walk away and come back to it like a puzzle.
Because your mind wanders when you're coloring, it's an opportunity for the it to consider "other things". Research has proven that when you get "stuck" with a problem, shifting gears and doing something else and returning to the problem actually helps to solve it. Shifting gears causes dopamine to dump. Dopamine is the reward "juice" of the brain.
In 2014, 1 million adult coloring books were sold. In 2015, 12 million were sold. Why?
Coloring clears the mind, relaxes the body and narrows the focus. It's an opportunity to distract from the chaos swirling around us. It's not an activity that is goal-oriented or requires masterful skills such as knitting or quilting and there is a minimal amount of materials. You can put it down at any time, walk away and come back to it like a puzzle.
Because your mind wanders when you're coloring, it's an opportunity for the it to consider "other things". Research has proven that when you get "stuck" with a problem, shifting gears and doing something else and returning to the problem actually helps to solve it. Shifting gears causes dopamine to dump. Dopamine is the reward "juice" of the brain.
Some think that adult coloring books brings us back to a nostalgic time when life was simple. Others say that it's worthwhile because, at its core, coloring is art and art is inherently worthwhile. Whatever your take is on this, if you like it, do it. If you have time, that is. It sure is healthier than boozing it up or engaging in "retail therapy". And who knows, perhaps there is some therapeutic value such as helping to cope with anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive behavior and depression where ruminating/worrying is part of the symptom cluster. We'll have to see where the research on all of this takes us.
Now, college campuses are using coloring books to help relax their students. Brown University, Universities of Wyoming, Massachusetts and Missouri along with the University of California at San Diego provide their students with coloring books.
Many campuses are also offering students "napping room", puppies to play with, chair massages and yoga.
Boy, life was sure different when I was in college. That's all I'm gonna say. I've gotta go to my "safe space" now where no one dares to hurt my feelings.
Just do the best you can. As my mother would say, "This, too, shall pass".
TTFN, Claudia
Many campuses are also offering students "napping room", puppies to play with, chair massages and yoga.
Boy, life was sure different when I was in college. That's all I'm gonna say. I've gotta go to my "safe space" now where no one dares to hurt my feelings.
Just do the best you can. As my mother would say, "This, too, shall pass".
TTFN, Claudia
