Science-Backed Reasons To Add Coloring To Your Self-Care Practice

As the illustrator of Inkspirations for Recovery, I’m especially invested in the healing that is possible at the intersection of art and self-evolution, so I put together a list of ways coloring can be a powerful tool in the recovery process. From stress and anxiety reduction to mindfulness and self-compassion, here are eight reasons the simple act of coloring should be a part of your recovery (or self-care) process:

A primary issue for those in recovery is an inability to find peace without the use of alcohol or other substances. A recent University of New England study showed that even a brief period of art-making can significantly reduce a person’s state of anxiety. Coloring takes your attention away from anxious thoughts and focuses it on the creative task at hand.

It offers an opportunity to pause, to sit quietly with yourself and zone in rather than zone out, and to gently work through your feelings in a nonthreatening environment. Like meditation and yoga, coloring is a quiet, self-affirming activity, one that has the advantage of being less demanding than other mindfulness practices, without being passive.

Attempting to color in the lines (or consciously coloring outside them) focuses the brain in a way that isn’t stressful. It not only allows you to let go of everyday worries for a short time but refocuses that energy on a tangible, creative task.

This is important for everyone but especially for people in recovery, who are learning new tools and techniques to deal with hardships and stress. In working with the detailed drawings of adult coloring books and considering color palettes that are aesthetically pleasing, you activate the parts of your mind responsible for organization and problem-solving.

By indulging in an activity we associate with childhood, we are able to explore a more creative and playful side of ourselves. This is especially beneficial for people who grew up in chaotic, possibly alcoholic homes and who may have missed out on the simple creative pleasures of childhood, like coloring.

Adult coloring books are easy. You don’t have to take a class, buy expensive supplies, or create a separate workspace. A coffee table, a coloring book, and some colored pencils are all it takes to get the creativity ball rolling.

Because it’s so easy to get started, it’s a perfect way to begin exploring your creativity. Having a regular creative outlet is even more important for people in recovery, who, once free of addictive substances, often experience a tremendous void. A new hobby like coloring can help fill the void in a healthy way and spark interest in other artistic endeavors.

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