How do you relax? Admittedly, I’m not very good at it, which sounds strange to admit because relaxing should be easy, right? At least, easier than being stressed.
But I’m never able to fully clear my mind. I’m always thinking about something on my never-ending to-do list — and usually feeling guilty about not tackling it.
My go-to relaxation strategy is sprawling out on the sofa and scrolling through my Facebook timeline and Instagram feed on my phone. If we’re being honest, checking social media is pretty much the opposite of relaxing. At night Jordan and I will zone out in front of the TV, which is entertaining but not necessarily calming.
I’ve been hearing about the anti-stress benefits of adult coloring books for months now but have been reluctant to give them a try. Until now. I think I’m finally desperate enough to believe that putting colored pencils to paper could help relieve some of my stress.
Cool Mom Picks has an extensive round up of adult coloring books (no, I didn’t write it!), and I pulled out a couple to share here that look particularly non-cheesy. The Just Add Color series (#5, below) also features a few coloring books illustrated by Lisa Congdon that I’m interested in trying as well.
Shopping guide: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
But if you’re still on the fence about adult coloring books, my friend Lindsay is offering free coloring pages for grown ups on her blog, Shrimp Salad Circus. She’s released two pages so far, and while they’re both so lovely, I think I’m partial to the gemstones. That’s Amy of Delineate Your Dwelling coloring them at the very top of the post!
What do you think? Would you try an adult coloring book to beat stress? What is your go-to relaxation method?
(top image via Instagram)
I need ALL of these! Hello, birthday and Christmas lists!
And thanks for linking to my freeeebies! <3
And I have a feel that as the adult coloring book trend grows, we’re going to find more and more super cool ones to add to our growing wish lists!
I LOVE coloring! I just got an advance copy of The Time Garden, which is another really beautiful coloring book for grown-ups.
What’s your preferred coloring tool? Pencils, crayons, or markers?
I NEED one of these!!! I love to color
I haven’t colored in so long, but I’m excited to try again!
I love the idea of coloring books! I typically relax by reading or taking an epsom salt bath (or sometimes both!) But it would be nice to switch it up a bit. I’m really tactile, so doing something relaxing with my hands would be lovely.
I’ve seen this Enchanted Forest coloring book before and it looks so magical, I might have to buy it!
Lynn-Holly | The Fisher Files
My mom is very tactile, too — she can’t watch TV without also knitting. Doing both at the same time is relaxing!
I’d love a bathtub big enough for an epson salt soak, but since that’s not going to happen soon, I’m going to give a coloring book a chance!
My mom is very tactile, too — she can’t watch TV without also knitting. Doing both at the same time is relaxing to her!
I’d love a bathtub big enough for an epson salt soak, but since that’s not going to happen soon, I’m going to give a coloring book a chance!
I think coloring pages are the PERFECT destress-er. When I was a practicing landscape architect we called coloring “rendering”… I loved to render graphics and landscape plans… so relaxing! I think I’m adding some of these to my christmas list. (Thanks for the shout out.)
“Rendering” sounds so much more sophisticated than coloring, doesn’t it? Let’s all get “rendering books” for the holidays!
I’ve taken to coloring a kids book I purchased for playground breaks / travel distraction. These look great!
I love the idea of a pocket-sized coloring book for on-the-go relaxation!
I’ve always colored to relax and have fun. It’s so cool that it’s becoming a “thing” now. These books look awesome. 🙂
I have yet to buy a book but my Coloring Page board on Pinterest is pretty awesome. I’ve printed and colored a couple that I think I’m going to frame.
I’d love to check our your Coloring Book Pinterest page! Can you send me a link?