Adults, you can benefit from coloring as well!

Blooming in Motion is for all ages and genders. #Bloominginmotion fun fact: Adults color too!

Adults benefit a lot from coloring as well! With all that's going on in the world, it is nice to allow yourself to go on a creative getaway. I included some fun facts about coloring:

A 2018 study, published in the journal The Arts in Psychotherapy, reviewed the experiences of 200 people hospitalized for a medical issue or surgery. The researchers found that participating in art therapy for an average of 50 minutes significantly improved their moods, and lowered levels of pain and anxiety. If you have low-level pain or anxiety, an hour of coloring just might make you feel better and calmer too.

Coloring calms down the busiest of minds by engaging parts of the cerebral cortex. The basic, repetitive motions relax the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, and the choice of color has a lot to do with it. Cool colors like blue and green can evoke calm, while hot colors like red and orange can be energizing, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

I hope to encourage people to spend less time on electronic devices. The blue light emitted by electronic devices such as our cellphones, tablets, and laptops is one of the leading causes of dark circles and sleep sabotage. In a 2016 study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that children who used an electronic device at night had greater difficulty falling asleep and got less REM sleep (necessary for rest and for memory consolidation) than those who didn’t. After they woke up, device users felt sleepier and their sleepiness lasted for a longer time than non-device users. I also shared some of my sample illustrations with a friend who manages a juvenile detention center. He originally planned on sharing my illustrations with just the girls but was shocked after seeing how excited the boys were as well. This reaffirmed my idea of catering to all ages and gender inclusivity.