There are so many different creative outlets to better your mental health and inspire creativity, many of which have been scientifically proven to lower your cortisol regardless of your artistic skill. In the past, we have recommended hobbies such as scrapbooking and gardening as ways to express yourself, have a little digital detox, and reconnect with your artistic side. Now, we have a new suggestion for anyone hoping to find some creative inspiration: colouring! That’s right—colouring isn’t just for kids. It’s for people of all ages and is regarded as a creative approach to self-care and mindfulness. There are even colouring books now designed specifically for adults.
What is an ‘adult colouring book’?
The term ‘adult colouring book’ is a label for colouring book designs that are often too intricate for children, and were created with relaxation purposes in mind. Hence the name, ‘adult’ colouring.
Some brands of colouring books have also come out with designs inspired by popular adult television shows and books, such as George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones and Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. Perhaps colouring your favourite book character exactly as you imagined them is the art therapy you need!
How is colouring better than scrolling?
Some colouring books are better for mindfulness and artistic expression than others. One of the most common patterns to colour is a mandala. A mandala is a symbolic design with deep historical origins and meanings, and is often used for healing, meditation, and artistic expression. An article by Healthline quotes a 2020 study by Malcolm Koo et. al, in which they discovered that…
“20 minutes of mandala coloring significantly relieved feelings of anxiety compared to plaid pattern coloring, free drawing, and reading.”
These participants reported that the colouring made them feel calm, safe, and at ease. Alternatively, you can try out nature-based designs like botanicals or animals.
One of the biggest reasons why colouring is better than scrolling is the intricate, repetitive movement your hand makes that creates feelings of calm for people with high levels of stress and anxiety. Colouring for even just 10 or 20 minutes can have a positive effect on your mind. NeuroLaunch states that for people specifically struggling with depression,
“the small, concrete accomplishment of completing a page matters. Finishing something when motivation is low is genuinely hard, and having a visible, colorful result can push back against feelings of ineffectiveness.”
According to Healthline’s article about adult colouring, it also allows your mind to turn off and tune out. Colouring is different from other art forms, like drawing or painting, because it can be done without overthinking or judgement.
What are the other benefits of colouring?
Colouring can also help you fall asleep better at night. Unlike staring at a screen for an hour before bed, colouring eases stress and promotes relaxation, helping you fall asleep more easily, allowing your mind to settle—whereas social media often activates your brain. Colouring for 15 minutes before bed might be the perfect addition for your nighttime routine, especially if you’re a person who often struggles to fall asleep after a hard day at work or school. And if you’re not ready to cut out screens before bed entirely, you can also try to colour while a relaxing television show plays in the background. Alternatively, NeuroLaunch says it can be a positive way to begin your morning with a quiet, screen-free start to the day.
Healthline also mentions that colouring improves your fine motor skills. Especially for those of an older age, the repetitive and fine motion of colouring maintains your finest motor skills. Santos-Longhurst uses Goldman’s findings to support the claim that,
“Coloring may then lead to an improved ability to handle other fine motor tasks, like holding a cup of coffee or brushing your teeth.”
Whether you go out and buy your own colouring books or print out online patterns to colour in, colouring is a fun and artistic hobby for people of all ages that supports your mental health, promotes self-care, and encourages you to think more creatively. Not to mention, you’ll have a beautiful and colourful design to hang on your office wall or put on your fridge to bring you a smile throughout your day.
Why this matters to LifeBonder
LifeBonder is all about embracing your inner creativity, spending more time in the real world than on energy-draining digital platforms, and finding ways to connect you with a larger community. Adult colouring can help you discover all three of these things.
For more information on creative outlets and ways to bring relaxation back into your life, check out some of our previous posts by our LifeBonder blog writers:
Sources
“Mental Health Coloring: Harnessing the Power of Art for Emotional Wellness.” NeuroLaunch. 16 February, 2026. https://neurolaunch.com/mental-health-coloring/. Accessed 6 July 2026.
Santos-Longhurst, Adrienne. “Can Colouring Really Help You Relax? 9 Reasons to Try Adult Coloring.”Healthline, Healthline Media LLC, 23 May 2022, https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/benefits-of-adult-coloring. Accessed 6 July 2026.
Koo, Malcolm, Hsuan-Pin Chen, and Yueh-Chiao Yeh. “Coloring Activities for Anxiety Reduction and Mood Improvement in Taiwanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study.” Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM vol. 2020 6964737. 21 Jan. 2020, doi:10.1155/2020/6964737
Kelsey Gatis
Kelsey is a writer and aspiring journalist with a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. She is currently studying for her MA in English, with courses focusing on culture, society, and history.
