25 August 2015

Why mindful colouring in is ‘on trend’ in the worlds of art and science

I’m sure that most of us can remember doodling on our school books in class in a way that somehow managed to hold our absolute attention in a way the teacher never could. Well now the science behind this phenomenon has become clearer and mindful colouring in books have become some of the most popular books around. In fact, earlier this year Johanna Basford’s mindful colouring in book Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book was the bestselling title on Amazon in the US. The reason for this adult colouring in craze is that so many of us leave stressful lives and proponents of mindful colouring in claim that it helps calm the mind, relieve stress and reduce anxiety. There has long been discussion in the world of psychology about the usefulness of mindfulness based techniques in helping people relieve stress and reduce worry by living more in the present moment. However, many clients that I see struggle to integrate this practice into their daily lives. Mindful colouring in is just one way that people can engage in this valuable skill in a way that is enjoyable, engaging and artistic.

One argument for why these colouring in books are so helpful is that they put our brain into alpha brain wave frequencies, which is our brain wave frequency when we are relaxed, rather than beta brain waves, which are the brain waves of more active mental and physical activity. Focusing on colouring in also allows us to fully focus on something that is not stressful and gives us a holiday from our worries. It’s often quite difficult to just stop thinking about our worries, so filling our mind with other mental stimulation allows us to forget about them for a while and feel calm.

Many therapists are now recommending that their clients purchase these books to engage in mindful colouring in when they are stressed, upset or angry. Mindful colouring in is also very helpful for children who are feeling overwhelmed and is a good activity to help them wind down after a day at school that doesn’t involve devices! By learning to do an activity such as this adults and children can learn to manage and regulate their emotions and maintain a calm state of being.