Did you know that adult coloring is good for boomer health? I recently shared why in an article at Boomer Cafe, which the kind Boomer Cafe folks have allowed me to republish here.
But what does adult coloring have to do with active travel for boomers? I use the hobby to relax during stressful travel situations. And it’s also a fun way to remember favorite travel experiences. Now enjoy the rest of “How boomers can color their way to relaxation:”
Was your boomer childhood filled with coloring books and boxes of Crayola crayons? Remember the first time you colored within the lines? I’m guessing that your mother posted the page on the kitchen refrigerator.
Fast forward to 2016. Did you know that coloring for adults has become the latest craze? There’s more to the hobby than the pride of keeping colorful pencils within the lines.
A recent study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that hobbies, including coloring, relieve stress and sadness. And anecdotal evidence claims that adult coloring lowers the heart rate (and you thought that required heavy exercise). There are even claims that the hobby puts users in a state similar to meditation, which is a bonus for those of us who have never been able to master that art.
When I color, my mind doesn’t wander to what I’m cooking for dinner or whether I’m really going to lose those five pounds before my son’s wedding. The simple act of choosing colors, then spreading them across a design, is all-encompassing. My mind doesn’t have room to think about anything else. Coloring actually gives my busy brain a rest.
You can find coloring books that focus on geometric designs, like Mandalas, or with pages that reveal a secret surprise once colored, or books that let you create scenes from your favorite travel memories.
I find that the portability of coloring — all you need is a book, coloring pencils, a sharpener, and blending pencils — allows me to relieve stress no matter where I am. If I’m due for a long wait in the doctor’s office, out come the coloring pencils. The practice is especially good for relieving travel stress. Now, plane delays, or long international flights, aren’t so tedious; in fact, I look forward to the extra time for coloring.
Coloring books are available in bookstores, hobby shops, or online at Amazon. You’ll find the coloring pages pictured here in Coloring the West, An Adult Coloring Book for Travelers. And a special thanks to reader Yvonne Mason for sharing her finished coloring pages with us.
And to prove my point about coloring being a traveler’s friend, I recently saw a selection at a convenience store in the Los Angeles airport.
So return to a favorite childhood pastime that allows your inner artist to soothe away tension. And don’t forget to post those finished pages on the kitchen refrigerator door for all to see.
Are you a fan of adult coloring? Join the conversation at the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook or send us an email to ask a question or share your favorite coloring tips. And don’t forget to share your finished pages of Coloring the West, An Adult Coloring Book for Travelers.
Disclosure: I have included Amazon links in this article for your convenience. My Itchy Travel Feet receives a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
