Are you stressed? Do you need a break? Do you just love coloring? Great! Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to indulge in the fun, relaxing activity that is coloring. It’s not just for kids – this classic childhood activity has become extremely popular with adults looking for an easy way to take a break.
Over the past few years, adult coloring has become extremely popular. From the grocery store to the craft store, you can find adult coloring books just about anywhere – and it’s for a good reason. Coloring is so popular because it’s an uncomplicated way to relax.
How did adult coloring gain popularity? According to Publisher’s Weekly, the popular trend started in early 2015 when coloring books like Johanna Basford’s Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest became bestsellers. Since then, all sorts of adult coloring books have hit the market for anyone and everyone who’s looking for a fun way to pass time.
Coloring can be a great way to escape from the craziness of the world around us and focus on something creative for a while. Let’s take a look at the benefits of coloring and where you can find some great coloring resources (including coloring pages online).
Download our FREE coloring pages below:
Benefits of Coloring
There are many benefits to coloring. From relaxation, to improving sleep and even reducing anxiety, coloring for adults is both nostalgic fun and legitimately helpful.
Beaumont Health has listed the following as benefits to coloring as an adult:
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Improve Motor Skills and Vision
- Improve Sleep
- Improve Focus
They also state that “coloring has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain, the amygdala. It induces the same state as meditating by reducing the thoughts of a restless mind. This generates mindfulness and quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest after a long day at work.”
So, not only is coloring fun, it’s also beneficial to our health. If you’re going through anything at work or in your personal life that is affecting your anxiety, stress level, sleep quality, and ability to focus, it might be worth it to try coloring during your work break, at lunch, and even at home.
Relaxing
Adult coloring books are more complicated and finely detailed than child coloring books. With so many details to color in, it’s easy to get lost in the activity – making it great for relaxing.
In the office, coloring books can be a great stress reliever. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and just need something different to do for a few minutes, coloring is a great option.
After work, coloring can be an easy way to do something creative while also relaxing. It doesn’t require much pre-planning or tools. All you need is a coloring book and some colored pencils, markers, or pens.
Sleep
Similar to helping you relax, coloring can also be a great way to help your sleep schedule. The Sleep Foundationemphasizes choosing a non-technological activity before bed: “scientists are now finding that light from electronics has the potential to disrupt sleep, because it sends alerting signals to the brain.”
Instead, they suggest setting electronics aside: “If you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, consider keeping electronics out of the bedroom and turning them off—especially those used at close range—for at least an hour before bed.”
So, instead of scrolling on your phone before bed, consider picking up an adult coloring book or printing off some free pages online to work on instead.
Art Therapy
While art therapists use art to help others through a variety of circumstances including anxiety reduction, coloring on your own should not be confused with art therapy.
According to the American Art Therapy Association, “The coloring book phenomenon is helping to reintroduce art as an important component of health and wellness. However, those seeking professional art therapy services are encouraged to consult a credentialed art therapist.”
Coloring pages can be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety but should not be exclusively used in cases where a doctor or therapist is needed.
Coloring Pages for Adults
There are all sorts of adult coloring pages from cozy cottages and cat to tv shows and movies. Whatever you’re interested in, there’s something for you to color. Whether you’re looking for coloring pages for adults online or offline, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s a guide to finding your perfect coloring pages.
Easy Adult Coloring Pages
Some great options for easy coloring pages are simple artworks and coloring by numbers. Here are a few links to some great options.
Hard Coloring Pages for Adults
Some of the most complicated adult coloring books are the mandalas. A mandala is a geometric figure that, in many spiritual communities, represents unity. The mandala is often used to encourage peacefulness and wholeness.
Mandala and geometric design coloring books and pages are popular for being very detailed and fun. If you’re looking for something intricate to color, these are perfect choices.
Difficultly patterned pages that you can purchase online and print from home:
- Detailed Mandala Coloring Pages
- Mindful Coloring Pages
- Color Your Stress Away: The Quarantine Collection
If you’re looking for something that you don’t have to print yourself here are a few great coloring books for sale online:
Tip: For complicated coloring pages, don’t feel pressured to complete it all in one sitting. Take your time and expect to work on a big page over the course of a few days. The goal isn’t to finish, it’s to enjoy the process!
Abstract Coloring Pages for Adults
- Abstract Coloring Pages (Free / Printable)
- Abstract Patterns (E-book)
Coloring Pages for Girls and Women
Here are a few great options including pages that would work for girls, young adults, and women.
Coloring Pages for Boys and Men
Boys and men might feel a bit left out or intimidated by the extremely popular flower pages available. However, there really are options for everyone. Here are a few coloring books and pages that any guy will love.
TV and Movie Coloring Books
What better way to relax after work than by coloring a page from your favorite show or movie? Here are a few great coloring books that offer great colorable images from some of your favorite movies and tv shows.
Other Great Coloring Books for Adults
Here are a few more links to some other great coloring pages that might interest you.
- Blissful Scenes – “Everyone has a favorite place – the calming beach, a peaceful garden, or a picturesque apple orchard. But why stop at visiting these places when you can color them too?”
- Creative Therapy: Anti-Stress Coloring Book – “Creating stunning artworks, filled with intricate beauty, can be a stress-relieving activity. Complete the detailed pieces in this gorgeous book to lift your mood and focus your mind.”
- WWF Coloring Book – Buying one of these coloring books is actually a donation to the World Wildlife Fund!
- A Million Cats: Fabulous Felines to Color – “Chubby cats. Smiling cats. Cats on buses, pedaling bicycles, playing instruments, and napping happily on branches: lots of cats to color and love!”
- Art-Thearapie: 100 Coloriages Anti-Stress – Often cited as the first adult coloring book. This French anti-stress coloring book was published in 2012.
Free Adult Coloring Pages
Are you looking for free online coloring pages for adults? No need to worry. There are many different options available all over the internet. These include free coloring pages for girls and guys.
- Free Adult Coloring pages – Abstract Patters, Animals, Optimistic Phrases, and Mandala Patterns.
- Coloring Pages for Adults – Art Deco, Mandalas, Animals, Fairies, Cats, Dogs, Etc.
- Adult Coloring Pages from Crayola – Abstract, Animals, Sayings.
- Adult Coloring Pages – Flowers, Mandalas, Paisley, Circles, Etc.
- Art Out Loud – Phrases, Quotes, Owls, Nature, Animals.
- Adult Coloring Page – Birds, Flowers, Abstract, Animals, Shapes, Etc.
Tip: Common themes with these free printable coloring pages for adults are usually focused on animals, flowers, and nature. So, if you are looking for something a bit more specific, you might need to look at purchasable options.
Coloring truly is for everyone! You don’t have to be a kid and you don’t have to be a professional artist. If you don’t know where to start, consider checking out some free coloring pages to print and see if you like coloring and what types of pages you like to color.
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