The Health Benefits of Coloring Books for Seniors
Coloring books are often associated exclusively with children, as something to give them to keep them busy and quiet. But in 2015, adult coloring books became the trend in the publishing world. While some declare adult coloring books a dead fad, others argue that the market simply shifted to Amazon or independent publishers. This is important to note, because the trend led to interest, leading to studies to explore the potential benefits of adult coloring books. After years of studies, the findings have made a strong argument for adding a few of these coloring books to your collection.
If you’ve been wanting to break out the colored pencils, what are these health benefits of adult coloring books?
Helps Promote Mindfulness and Fight Anxiety
One reason why adult coloring books are great for seniors is because they promote mindfulness. We’ve previously discussed how mindfulness can be extremely healthy for you, especially if you’re stressed or anxious. Mindfulness has been found to lessen stress, lower your blood pressure, and may even improve your immune system. A type of mindfulness that coloring books are particularly prone to induce is called flow.
Coloring books promote being “in the flow,” when you can lose yourself in an activity.
Being “in the flow” is exactly what you’d expect it to mean — when you’re so absorbed in an activity or event that everything outside that moment ceases to exist. It’s when you get lost in a hobby and suddenly, two hours have passed. Flow can be effective at promoting positive feelings while eliminating attention on negative outside stressors.
Outside of mindfulness, adult coloring books have been found to be effective stress- and anxiety-fighting hobbies. One study from 2005 — ten years before the trend even began — found that participants who colored mandalas reported drastically lowered levels of anxiety, compared to participants who colored on blank pieces of paper. This result led the researchers to conclude that structured coloring of geometric patterns may be beneficial than unstructured coloring. Other studies found similar results, declaring that coloring can be an “effective, inexpensive, and highly accessible” way to combat depressive symptoms and anxiety.
Keeps Your Mind and Motor Skills Sharp
While fighting anxiety is certainly the biggest, and most publicized, benefit of coloring books for adults, it’s by no means the only one. The potential benefits for your mental strength and physical dexterity also should be noted.
As we’ve noted in the past, our brains work on something of a use-it-or-lose-it-basis. To keep our minds strong as we age, we have to engage them. Coloring books are a great way to do this while having fun. The hobby trains our minds to focus and engages parts of our brain that otherwise may not be engaged. Creating art has even been shown to slow cognitive decline.
Coloring books are a great way to stay mentally sharp while having fun.
These other sections of our brains that are engaged also are key for our fine motor skills and vision. By using these sections of the brain in a problem-solving manner (e.g., choosing colors, where to draw, etc.), coloring can help improve coordination.
Encourages Self-Expression
Finally, coloring books allow you to make art in a controlled manner that still encourages artistic expression and self-expression. Since you’re guided and focused on the coloring the image in front of you, adult coloring books are a way to benefit from art and express your inner artist, even if you’re not particularly skilled. They can be less intimidating than free-hand drawing and coloring. This allows even beginners to start gaining the advantages of creating art. At the same time, seniors can benefit because art, art classes, and organized coloring can promote self-esteem and combat isolation, even in non-verbal seniors.
● ● ●
With adult coloring books, you have some creative control, but not too much, which can limit stress. It’s also low stakes, removing any stress that may come from worrying about messing up. At the same time, coloring can keep your mind calm and focused and strengthen your mental and physical dexterity. All together, these factors make adult coloring books an incredibly affordable, feasible, fun, and healthy hobby for seniors!
Featured Blogs
- Learning to Ski
- The Stories Behind Classic Christmas Carols
- 4 More Tips to Make Christmas Tree Hunt Less Stressful
- Why Do We Celebrate That? Other Festive Holidays
- A Senior Guide to Boston
- A Senior Guide to Edinburgh
- How Does Medicare Cover Osteoporosis?
- What are Ulcers?
- Medicare's Coverage of Parkinson's Disease
- What is a Cognitive Screening?
- Spooky Spots for Halloween 2023
- 4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
- 10 Classic Horror Books for Halloween
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2024
- 10 Safety Rules for Seniors Who Enjoy Hunting
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- A Senior Guide to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- A Senior Guide to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- Medicareful Living is Changing Its Name — Here's Why
- CMS Releases 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Costs
- Can You Keep Your Medicare Plan Each Year?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lucerne
- Is Expensive Cookware Worth It?
- The Drug Prices Medicare Can Directly Negotiate
- Does Medicare Ever Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Barcelona
- How Does COBRA Work with Medicare?
- Different Ways Medicare Can Cover Drug Costs
- All About Enrolling in Social Security
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Madrid
- Does Medicare Cover Open-Heart Surgery?
- Exercise Tips for Summer
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to Lisbon
- Hosting a Safe Summer Barbecue
- Senior Summer Barbecue Tips
- Does Medicare Cover Biopsies?
- 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to the Finger Lakes
- Does Medicare Cover Endoscopies?
- Ways Seniors Can Recover from a Workout
- Is Chocolate Healthy for You?
- Understanding Adult ADHD
- How Does Medicare Cover Hypertension?
- The Symptoms and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- How to Determine What Temperature to Use When Cooking
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Keeping Fit on Vacation
- Is Your Tonsillectomy Covered by Medicare?
- Tips for the Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Kitchen First Aid Tips
- What Does FDA-Approved Mean?
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Guide to New York City
- How to Caramelize Onions
- Why Do We Celebrate That? April Fools’ Day
- Medicare and Powers of Attorney
- The Essential Role of Eggs in Cooking
- What are Different Types of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine? - Tips for Remembering to Take Your Medicine
- What is Medicare Part E?
- Building Your Basic At-Home Senior Gym
- How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to New Orleans
- How to Navigate & Read Academic Articles
- Phytonutrients: What Plant Color Says About Nutrition
- How to Prevent or Reduce Inflammation
- Osteoporosis: Risk Factors, Signs, and Treatment
- How to Make Homemade Pretzels
- Researching Your Ancestry and Family Tree
- How Medicare and Social Security Work Together
- What is Nordic Walking?
- Food Questions You've Been Embarrassed to Ask
- How Medicare Changed for 2023 and Beyond
- Tips for Using a Microwave
- How to Clean Your Ears Safely
- Skiing as a Healthy Hobby for Seniors
- 3 More Great Places to Celebrate New Year's Eve
- Why Do We Celebrate That? More New Year's Eve Traditions
- Panettone, the Italian Christmas Dessert
- A Simple Homemade Gingerbread Recipe
- How to Make Christmas Decorating Jollier
- The Science of Winter Weight Gain
- Seasonal Picks: 3 Foods You Should Try This Winter
- 5 Tips to Make Getting Your Christmas Tree Stress-Free
- Show-Stopping Potato Side Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Dishes to Impress Your Friends: Boeuf Bourguignon
- Holiday Travel Tips to Reduce Stress
- Does Medicare Cover Pain Management?
- Is Hunting a Healthy Senior Hobby?
- Ways You Can Get More Politically Involved
- What are Medicare's Lifetime Reserve Days?
- Spooky Spots for Seniors Halloween 2022
- How to Make Soul Cakes for Halloween
- Jack O' Lantern Carving Tips for Halloween
- Easy Ways to Peel a Potato
- 2023 Social Security COLA Largest in Decades
- Exercise Tips for Autumn
- How to Make Candy Apples at Home
- Why are Medicare Insurance Sales Calls Recorded?
- Here's What Medicare Costs in 2023
- CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Rules for 2023
- Medicareful Travel: Senior Trip to London
- Does Medicare Cover Insomnia Treatment?
- Healthy and Easy Homemade Dog Treats
- The FDA Finalizes Ruling to Increase Access to Hearing Aids
- What the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Means for Medicare
- Tips to Make Flying and Airports Less Stressful
- CMS Projects Lower 2023 Part D Average Costs
- The 15 Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette
- How Often Should You Shower?
- What are Medicare Pilot Programs?
- How to Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware
- Confronting a Loved One About Hurtful Behavior
- What Does Creditable Coverage Mean for Medicare?