Poring over the pages of a coloring book isn’t just for kids anymore. Adults are getting in on the pastime as a way to de-stress. “Coloring helps the brain wind down from a long day,” says Claudia Trevithick, a Denverbased registered psychotherapist. Shading in the designs engages both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, Trevithick says, which creates more neural activity. Plus, coloring between intricate lines requires focus and offers a distraction from whatever else is on your mind. To reap maximum benefits, Trevithick recommends pulling out the colored pencils right before bedtime. So go ahead and crack open a coloring book. Your inner five-year-old (and your brain) will thank you.
Inside the Lines
