If you want an escape from the fast paced world, focus on minimizing stress. Many rely on meditation or workouts, but did you know that drawing and coloring are just as effective? They can also help in relieving stress! Researchers argue that activities like drawing or even coloring doodles can help increase concentration and aid in stress relief as well as brain healing.
How Does Mindful Drawing Work?
Mindfulness means that one is focusing on the present and drawing, allows a person to achieve that goal. The act of sketching allows one to focus deeply and increases mindfulness. Let us consider outlining steps on how the act of drawing increases focus.
1. Helps Foster Concentration
Drawing allows a person to block external disturbances, so, one can focus on helpful resources only. Helps identify patterns, shapes, lines, and puts every mind to use. This kind of focused attention is obtainable through meditation and allows concentration elsewhere in life.
2. Decreasing Stress and Anxiety Levels
Art activities are effective in lowering the levels of cortisol and helps in the balancing of hormones. The act of shading or coloring is considered repetitive movement and can lower one’s stress levels starting from simple breathing techniques. This method can be especially helpful for those dealing with anxiety or racing thoughts.
3. Development of Hand-Eye Coordination Skill
To draw means to coordinate your eye and hand movement which, in turn, reinforces certain neural connections in the brain. This is especially useful for people who are in the process of rehabilitation after suffering from trauma to the brain. Research suggests that coloring improves cognitive recovery and hand-eye coordination (Department of Defense, 2016).
Art Therapy – How Sketching Can Help Recovery of the Brain
Scientific studies have demonstrated that art therapy helps people with capability deficit and working memory after brain injury the most. As stated in the LinkedIn article by an art therapist (Coloring & Copying: Beneficial for the Injured Brain), the mere action of tracing lines and coloring greatly increases the chances of brain function and self-healing.
In the case of patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), sculpting and painting are employed in the retraining programs to facilitate motor skills, memory, and emotional health. Even the U.S. Department of Defense acknowledges the positive impact of art in terms of rehabilitation (read more here).
How To Include Drawing in Your Routine: For Mindfulness
If you are looking for ways to incorporate drawing into your mindfulness practices, here are ways to start.
- Carry a Sketchbook: Keep a sketchbook handy and spend 10-15 minutes daily doodling or sketching images that come to mind.
- Coloring: Adult coloring books serve as good de-stressing items that can help the user meditate.
- Draw What You See: Set aside a few minutes to look at what is in your environment and draw what you see around you.
Concluding Thoughts
Drawing is not only an artistic ability but also an effective way to practice mindfulness and improve mental health. From improving concentration to lowering anxiety levels and even boosting brain activity, practicing art daily offers great benefits.
Wonder how you can embark on your mindful drawing journey? Take a look at our Pencil Palette books which are made for people who haven’t touched a sketchbook as well as those who are looking to unleash their artistic side. Get it on Amazon now –
