Coloring, a favorite pastime of children all over the globe, is not just for kids anymore. In recent years, coloring has been reintroduced to the market as a product for all ages, and for good reason!

Have you colored anything recently? If not, I highly encourage you to grab a colored pencil, crayon, or marker and the nearest coloring book (kid or adult!) and give it a try. Current research shows that coloring can help relax your mind and even elevate your mood. Check out the article below for some specific ways that coloring is beneficial for your mind and body. (At the end of the excerpt, you will need to follow the link to view the complete article.)

4 Reasons You Should Try Coloring

This favorite kids’ pastime can brighten your life and boost your health.

By Olivia DeLong MEDICALLY REVIEWED IN NOVEMBER 2020

While coloring never goes out of style for kids, it’s now a booming business for adults as well. Sales in adult coloring books soared from 1 million in 2014 to a whopping 12 million in 2015, and colored pencil sales jumped 26 percent that same year. With Crayola releasing premium coloring kits designed for adults, it’s looking like adult coloring is here to stay. And for good reason: Coloring is not only fun—it may help you stay healthy.

“Coloring appears to be universal—a valuable tool for individuals of all ages,” says Andrea Smith, PhD, a psychologist at Medical City Green Oaks Hospital in Dallas, Texas. According to Smith, coloring has the power to ease your mind and boost your mood. Here are four ways that coloring can brighten your life and improve your health.

Reason 1: Tame stress On most days, your brain ­and body are in high gear. Whether you’re running from meeting to meeting or from soccer games to dance lessons, sitting down at some point in the day for even a brief coloring session can clear your mind of added stressors. “Often I’ll recommend coloring to patients as a part of their bedtime routine,” says Smith. Bonus: Making coloring part of your nighttime ritual means you’re shutting down electronics, and that can make for better sleep. … (Click here to continue reading.)