May is going strong and I’m glad to see people taking mental health seriously! One of the things as everyone prioritize their mental health is learning self care activities that make them feel better. One of of my favorites to do is adult coloring books.
Peace and Quiet
Nothing is more helpful than a little peace and quiet. Finding an activity to do to enhance that quiet is key. Coloring is a great way to be in your quiet element. I love being able to concentrate on my art. There are so many coloring books to use. An adult coloring book usually is more intricate than a regular coloring book. It’s a little more fun than the days of coloring outside of the lines like a child. FYI I never really like coloring outside of the lines but with adult coloring books if I’m having a bad day I allow myself to do so.
Perfection Unnecessary
As I stated above coloring outside of the lines isn’t necessary. I also love making a chaotic look to my pages. It’s a release. With my Type A personality it’s important for me to just allow myself that moment of messiness. It’s like using paint. It’s pretty to make lines look great. Some of the best artist were considered to be messy artist. So I figure out what are my reasons for creating.
Mental Health Time Outs
I love my phone. I love my family but like life I need a break. Coloring allows that time out. It allows you to escape. I like to sip my tea while coloring too. Tea drinking is a form of self care too. Sometimes I go into my office and color. It allows me to change my atmosphere. Music playing while coloring is a good way to end the day. Also do not underestimate having good colored pencils while coloring. It makes a huge difference!
Coloring Books Everywhere
You can get adult coloring books from anywhere. They have the one pictured below from Target. Any store that carries coloring books will have them. You can check the book section to acquire them. One of the other spots is Five Below! I tend to spend at least $7 or more but less than $10 on them. The one I’m currently coloring is City Escapes. I started with Paris. Why?! It’s obvious from my actual Paris trip! Coloring books come with many themes. Just choose the one you like the best.
Other Self Care Needs
Not everyone wants to color in a coloring book and that’s fine too. Keep in mind that just simply taking time to assess what exactly you need is key. You have to be willing to be able to take the time indulge in yourself. With that in mind, what are your likes? I have created an Amazon List with some suggestions. Take a look! You may find a self care hack or it will help you to tap into your own likes!
Self Care Fails
Nothing can really fail self care like not doing it at all. There are many healthy ways to help yourself. No one way to help yourself. One of the ways I failed myself was denying that I actually needed self care to begin with. It’s super irritating when I think about my old ways. That self denial is something that is more harm than good. So now I encourage others to find ways to care about themselves. I hope others invest into their mental health. It’s important to build yourself up!
Here are some ways to invest in yourself:
- Set a weekly or monthly date
- Keep all of your maintenance appointments such as hair or nail appointment
- Make time with friends without canceling
- Wind down your nights with quiet time whether reading, adult coloring book, or listen to a podcast
- Set a weekly exercise schedule and stick to it
- Take yourself on a staycation or vacation (see my solo trip to Phoenix as an example)
Whatever you do make yourself a priority! You are your greatest asset. You will be able to pour into others as long as you keep your cup full!
Now let me go color these pages!
