Nothing is better for mental health than a good hobby. Coloring books, drawing, and painting are all great ways to unwind after a stressful day at work or school, but they can also help you develop new skills and learn about yourself. Here are some ideas for keeping your artistic side alive:
Adult coloring books are a great way to unwind and relax. You can even do it with friends! The act of coloring can be extremely therapeutic, especially if you have trouble sleeping or have anxiety. All you need is some colored pencils, markers (any medium your heart wants to explore) and an open mind (and maybe a drink).
You can find adult coloring books at any bookstore or online shop like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There are even entire websites dedicated to them!
Check out: Adult Coloring Booksif you want to see what's available for purchase right now--it's worth it just for the pictures alone!
You have a printer and want the freedom of printing as many copies as you like? Digital download is the answer. Find some here: Digital Adult Coloring Books
Drawing mandalas and flower petals is a great way to relax. A mandala is a geometric pattern, and flower petals are circular patterns. You can draw both of these easily with just a pencil or pen on paper, or use them as inspiration for your own designs! Check out: Mandala Drawing Books
Zentangle is a method of creating images by drawing structured patterns. It's also a form of meditation, and it can help you relax. Perfect for a hobby, or as an outlet for your creativity! Zentangle Coloring Books.
Comics are a great way to express yourself. They're also fun to draw, and you can practice your skills by making comics with friends or family.
Comics can be drawn on paper or digitally, and they can be used as a diary or an outlet for emotions such as anger or sadness. You may even find that sharing your comics with others helps them understand what you're going through better than words alone could ever do!
*HINT - great way to open a line of communication with a quite teenager...or a difficult pre-teen.
Bullet journaling is a system of keeping track of your life. It's a way to organize your thoughts, goals, and daily tasks in a way that works for you. Bullet journals come in all shapes and sizes--some people like to use them as planners or calendars; others use them as sketchbooks or diaries; still more use them as both!
There are two main parts of any bullet journal:
An index page at the front where you can write down what each page is about (e.g., "January" or "2023") and then list all the other pages by month/year order so it's easy to find what you need when flipping through the book later on.
Then there are individual pages with sections for each day where you write down important things happening during that day (e.g., birthdays), reflect on recent events (e.g., "What did I learn today?"), set goals for yourself ("When will I do my laundry next?"), draw stuff that makes you happy...you get the idea!
Use it as a travel diary, story keeping, food and health, motivation etc.
Bullet Journal stencils, stickers and other awesome supplies (productivity, boss babe and everything in between) BUJO Supplies
There are a lot of different kinds of art, and for some it may be easier than others to get into. If you're not sure where to start or what kind of mediums interest you, here are some ideas:
Painting - This is probably one of the most common forms of artistic expression; it can be done anywhere, by anyone, and requires little equipment besides brushes or pens and paper (or canvas). It's also something that can be done alone if necessary! Many people find painting relaxing because it's more meditative than other forms of creative expression like writing music or acting out scenes from plays--it's just about creating something beautiful with your hands rather than having anything else in mind when doing so.*
Hand Lettering - Hand lettering has become increasingly popular over recent years as more young adults come into contact with this form through Instagram posts from brands such as Rifle Paper Co.*
If you gravitate towards B/W, graphite or charcoal and want to learn how to sketch, check out the 37 PCS
If you want to explore color, be it colorful, watercolor or metallic pencils (+ pastel) all these and sketch basics can be found in our 55 PCS
Interested in BUJO, Comics, Mandala/ Zentangle, Manga Check out the 36 PCS
As always, all NIL Tech supplies come with resources: Step by Step Drawing Blogs, Library and Free Printouts. Be inspired by the amazing community of Artists on our social media:
Art is a great way to take care of yourself. It can be a hobby, or even therapy. The important thing is that you find something that works for you and makes you happy!
