There is a new trend in town and it has found it’s way to BCLS @ the Goose Creek Library.

Health benefits of coloring books attracting adults to childhood pastime

Coloring is just for kids, right? Not anymore.

Recently, adults across the country have picked up coloring books as a way to relax and unwind.

Jason Abrams, 30, is an account manager at North 6th Agency, a New York City-based public relations firm. High anxiety and the hectic schedule of the deadline-driven job left him needing a way to cope with the stress.

Eight years ago, he got hooked on using coloring books as a relaxing exercise— he even sparked a trend in his office.

“We’ll meet in the conference room on Friday afternoons,” Abrams said, “and get our coloring session in… to help relieve the stress.”

The health benefits go beyond relaxation, and include exercising fine motor skills and training the brain to focus.

Doctors have known about these benefits since the early 1900s. Psychiatrist Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, prescribed coloring to his patients to calm and center their minds. Doctors today continue to follow Jung’s lead and still recommend the activity to combat anxiety.

The fact that coloring is structured activates the logic part of the brain, and generates a creative mindset, said New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis.

“Because it’s a centering activity, the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that is involved with our fear response, actually gets a bit, a little bit of a rest,” Michaelis said, “and it ultimately has a really calming effect over time.”

Not only does he prescribe coloring, but Michaelis even uses coloring books with his own family.

“We do it on Fridays as a way to kind of take the steam out of the week,” he said, “and also when my kids are kind of fighting or the temperature is starting to rise a bit in the house.”

The trend has spread nationwide as adult coloring books are popping up on bestseller lists, and major publishers are producing the books in droves, with titles like The Mindfulness Coloring Book, Splendid Cities, The Time Garden, and Color Me Calm.

Once a month, Heidi Johnson, a member of the Ladies Coloring Club in New Hope, Minnesota, finds herself unwinding with the group when they meet for cocktails and coloring. And there’s no need to worry about staying in the lines, Johnson said.

“You don’t have to be an expert at the DIY project, or a painter or an artist,” she said. “You can just pick something you like that speaks to you and color it however you want it.”

Abrams compared his experience with coloring to the feeling of doing yoga.

“You go in, right, you’re tight, and you’re tense. You start going through the motions, and the poses, and stretching out,” he said. “Then when you’re done, you’re like, ‘I feel excellent.’”

But above all else, coloring lets stressed-out adults feel like a kid again, and channel a worry-free lifestyle— at least for a little while.

The Friends of the Berkeley County Library, Inc. are seeking book donations for their September 19^th book sale.  The sale will be held at the Berkeley County Administration Building located at 1003 N HWY 52, Moncks Corner (next to the Library).  There will be a pre- sale from 8 am – 10 am for members only. The sale for the public will open at 10 am to 2 pm.

The Friends of the Library are seeking music and book CD’s, movie  DVD’s, current novels, children’s books, books on gardening, health, history, religion, and cookbooks. Please ensure books are in the good condition with no missing or torn pages. Complete sets of encyclopedias, 2010 or newer will be accepted. Books in less than desirable condition will not be accepted as well as textbooks and Reader’s Digest Condensed Books.

All money raised through Friend’s book sales go to benefit the 7 libraries in the system.  This enables the Friends to provide funds for the Summer reading programs, teen programs, and many other items that are beyond the county budget.  Donations may be taken to any Berkeley County Library Branch and a tax receipt is available upon request.

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 About Friends of the Berkeley County Library

The Friends of the Berkeley County Library, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization of volunteers.  It promotes, enhances and supports the Berkeley County Library System. Money is raised through membership fees, corporate incentives, Friends’ book sale tables/shelves at each library and special fundraising events. To learn more about the Friends, visit http://berkeleylibrarysc.org/friends-of-the-library/

Donations boxes can be found at the following locations:

Moncks Corner

VP Racing Gas Station 200 Rembert C Dennis Blvd

YMCA 210 Rembert C Dennis Blvd

The Corner Cafe and Bakery 323 E. Main Street

Panache Salon 100 C Fairground Rd

Goose Creek

Goose Creek Gymnastics 135 St. James Blvd