Colouring the blues away

Be it due to hectic work hours, dissatisfying jobs, relationship problems or rocky family situations, stress has become an inevitable part of our lives today. While sometimes that stress can motivate one towards their goals, there are times when it takes over one’s health and also starts affecting other aspects of their life.

 
In order to combat it effectively, many in the city are taking the creative route to de-stress themselves. Adult colouring books, stress ball and kinetic sand are some of the preferred ways to relieve stress and muscle tension.

Nikitha Andrade, a professional, says that adult colouring books are her favourite. “It is soothing and relaxes my mind. I use squeezy balls too, especially when I am extremely stressed or angry. However, I prefer colouring as it is simple yet needs creativity.” She adds that the combination of colours, intricate designs and detailing helps soothe her mind. Sometimes, she also pops bubble wraps, which give her an equally relaxed feeling.

Sitting in front of the computer for long hours at work can take a toll on one’s health, leading to stress and anxiety. Though this might be unavoidable at times, one can always take time off the screen and calm themselves.

 Shreya Nagesh, a creative designer, says she often uses squeezy stress balls in office to relax. “My work is such that I end up sitting at the computer most of the time and this makes my eyes and mind really tired. I use a stress ball at least five to six times a day to de-stress. But when I am angry or upset, I use colouring books.

Colours really help me unwind and I realise that I am calming down as the choice of colours also changes gradually (from using dark, deep colours to lighter and
more neutral hues),” she explains.

She points out that being a designer, she gets time to experiment with different colours and the intricate details help her shift her temper to a more relaxed space.

Medha Rao, a professional, says that she uses adult colouring books everyday, especially between 3 pm and 4 pm, and it makes her feel tranquil and quiet. She says colouring clears her mind before she gets onto the other half of the day.

“These colouring books add a charm to an otherwise unpredictable day. We, as kids, loved colouring and to do the same today gives a sense of comfort of something so familiar,” explains Medha.

Dr Sulata Shenoy, director, Turning Point, Centre for Psychological Assessments, Therapies and Counseling, says that with adult colouring books, people are basically able to focus on the present task and keep all other distracting thoughts at bay.

And since the task (colouring) is so simple, one doesn’t really need to think or analyse. “The process of colouring is very enjoyable and creative and brings about calmness in a person. I would definitely recommend this as one of the ways to relax.

Many people are still unable to practise meditation and yoga and perhaps, that’s the reason why these books have a universal appeal,”  explains Sulata.

She highlights an important aspect saying that though colouring gives one the freedom to explore one’s creativity, it also restricts them with boundaries and this trains the mind to focus the energy onto a specific neutral stimulus. Similarly, she says, when a person uses a stress ball, they are activating the complementary hemisphere.

“There are certain pressure points in our hands that give us positive results. It keeps a person’s energy contained in one direction. People who are restless, behave aggressively or suffer from sadness can use the stress ball to draw out their negative thinking and stress. However, I would always suggest using these as an adjacent with other lifestyle changes,”  says Sulata.