The Quick and Easy Way to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Using only Paper and Pencil
Well here we are in a new year, already well under way and we’re back into the swing of things. How did that happen! It’s like we get to go round again every year, but hopefully learning different lessons each time.
Now I don’t know about you, but I love the idea that there are patterns within patterns, and I use the concept when working with clients: Here we have a mandala, you can see the shape. Put it under a kaleidoscope and suddenly there are dozens, hundreds of different patterns we didn’t notice before. Unseen to the naked eye, yet there when we are able to see them. I use this as a metaphor for the lives we think we have, versus the lives that are available for us to have. Powerful stuff!
Then when we’ve looked at some different patterns, we do some colouring: maybe some shading, maybe pastel colours. And we can do it while listening to meditation music too.
I have worked with people who feel overwhelmed just looking at a whole page of colouring. This can be a characteristic of perfectionism. There is no need to colour everything at once. In fact, I advocate spending only half an hour a day colouring. Half an hour is a perfect time to just spend on yourself, by yourself, for yourself. Give it a try and see.
Colouring can be a quick and easy way to destress, unwind, relax, be more creative and just generally have fun. For those who like to be sociable, try group colouring sessions. Invite your friends over and each take the same page but use different colours. Or share a page, with each person using one colour on a particular part of the image. Like book club for people who don’t want to spend time reading a whole book.
So jump onboard the colouring craze, get yourself some sheets, pages or even a book. There are so many on the market at the moment, get something that appeals to you: paisley patterns, gardens, forests, oceans, animals, blocked patterns… or try one of my Crop Circle Pattern books from https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/cooldoodledesigns
Give it a go and bring a little more calm, a little more relaxation, into your life.