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For a sorority alumna, I have a surprising lack of artistic ability. I have a great many talents, but I long ago accepted that anything artsy was just not among them. When I was in school, I always felt bad for the sister who was the recipient of my attempts at crafting, with gobs of glitter and smeared paint. Now, I look at all of those cool things on Pinterest and know that even trying is a complete waste of time that will just result in about five glue gun burns and my stressing the hell out. But there is one, just one, art activity that I was always able to have moderate success at – coloring. It probably has something to do with my OCD tendencies, but I always found coloring between the lines rather soothing. And it turns out that I’m not the only one, because apparently coloring is the new trend in relaxation for adults.
“The popularity of coloring books right now is part of that larger movement to break away from the hustle and bustle of life and sort of the internet you know this urge to constantly look at our phone or our computer or check our email,” coloring book creator Lisa Congdon told NBC News. Congdon isn’t overselling the popularity of adult coloring; an adult coloring book, Johanna Basford’s “Secret Garden,” is currently in the top 10 on Amazon’s Best Seller List.
The adult coloring movement has become so popular that people are now hosting “coloring parties”, where grown-ass adults gather and do exactly what they did when they were five – color with their friends. Although, I suspect there’s probably more wine and less fighting over the Burnt Sienna crayon these days. One woman who hosts these parties, Shyla Jannusch, told NBC News, “It allows us to be innocent again, in some respects.”
Coloring as a method to decrease stress does have some scientific backing – The American Lung Association recently added it to its list of recommended stress relievers. So I’m thinking it may be time for me to pick up a bottle of wine, a coloring book and a box of crayons – at the very least, it’s got to be a cheaper relaxation technique than my yoga classes and Lexipro prescription, right? .
[via NBC News]
Image via Shutterstock
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Jenna Crowley
Jenna used to be known as 2NOTBrokeGirls, but then one of the girls actually went broke, so she's struck out on her own. Jenna spends her free time saving the world, one sorority girl at a time (usually while wearing yoga pants), questioning why she decided to get a doctorate, documenting her love of all things cheese related, and hosting the new PGP podcast Don't Take It From Us. You can ask her anything you want about football, using your boobs to get what you want, and pizza at @JennaLCrowley on Twitter or via email at JennaLCrowley@gmail.com.
@JennaLCrowley
@donttakeitfromus
Except when the crayon breaks and I flip out and start throwing shit.
I used to get real bootleg and try to tape it back together. Real low point.
Now I know what I’m getting D-Man for Christmas.
2NOTBrokeGirls,
What do you say we get some crayons, a big bottle of riesling, and color some blurred lines, baby.
-Shibbs
Brian loved coloring books
I have to admit, this is actually something I have been doing for the better part of the last 10 years. I’m not proud, but what I’m saying is it works people! (also, lonely…it says that I’m lonely)