Coloring for Stress Relief.

My new pencils

Some great books I've gotten

A page from my sketch book

                                                    You've probably seen them at the grocery store, or the book store or craft stores even places like Costco.

Adult coloring books that have intricate coloring designs of things like, nature scenes, animals or mandalas. I bought several and even invested in some really nice colored pencils at the art store.

Look they can't keep the shelves full

I decided I wanted another option to mindlessly watching Netflix. So I bought a few coloring books and a sketch book because my artist, son reminded me that I could create my own designs as well. Which has been a lot of fun as well.

 I've tried to include photos of some of what you can buy just about anywhere as well as some of my own artistic drawing work. There is one of my sketch book pages with peacock studies I was drawing just above. Turns out that not only is coloring fun it is a wonderful stress reliever as well. 

Eight card designs I drew and created for Christmas

A page I colored

"When coloring, we activate different areas of our two cerebral hemispheres, says psychologist Gloria Martínez Ayala. "The action involves both logic, by which we color forms, and creativity, when mixing and matching colors. This incorporates the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills (the coordination necessary to make small, precise movements]. The relaxation that it provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of our brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress."

16 Nautical Theme Cards with Bible verses I drew and created

I have created some small 3x5 nautical designs with accompanying bible verses.  You can see some of them in the photo below. I'd love to send you the whole set of 16 for you to color as a thank you for supporting this blog for any donation of $10 or more. After you color them they are nice to include with gifts or just as a way to cheer up a friend or to let someone know you are praying for them. 

Coloring allows us to switch our brains from other thoughts and to simply focus on the moment. It is excellent for stress and anxiety relief.  Coloring is a wonderful self care option. I hope you will give it a try. 

My " Should Do" List

A previous Dragonfly project 

Its morning and I have this list of things I should do, most of them are things I want to do.
I should go nordic walking, I should study, I should write, I should journal, I should do something creative, I should cut out the sugar and carb foods that I've let slip back in. I should pray, I should read that stack of massage and aroma therapy books on my desk. I should get dressed and start the day. I should go work on that mosaic dragonfly, I should finish my skeleton for massage school, I should get the bills paid, I should get breakfast made. There are lots of other things I could add to this list.

What I'm not going to do is stress out about all of these things I should do. I'm not going to waste time worrying about how I will get them all done. I'm not going to feel guilty about the stuff I have not gotten done yet. Worry, stress and guilt cloud our thinking. They cause us to accomplish nothing because we become paralyzed. So just decide to skip that stuff. Pick something and do that. When its done pick the next thing to do.

I have chosen from the list above I should write. Its what I feel inspired to do from the list above.
Writing and sharing my journey is an accountability motivator for me. I know there are people that look forward to reading the things I research and share. Writing helps me organize my thoughts. I have always thought of myself as more of an introvert, which does not mean I don't like people. I love being with people and I am not shy or a reclusive loner.  What it does mean is that I need alone time to process and recharge. I have often considered myself a professional extrovert. I am good with people and a natural leader I just need down time too.  Come to find out there is a third option called an ambivert. Turns out I am one of those who is somewhere in between called ambivert.  For ambiverts to recharge their energy levels they need a mixture of social interaction and alone time. Too much of either wears them out. Wow, lightbulbs go on for me. I actually learn a lot while researching for these posts.  If you are wondering about yourself heres a quick test http://www.danpink.com/assessment .

It is easy to look at my should do list and get anxious about how I will get it all done. I try to remember the old saying that there is a time and a season for every purpose under heaven. I get up early in the morning before my family so I can have that quiet time that I need to be able to function. It is part of my essential self care routine. I try to think of self care in three parts. What do I do for my body. What do I do for my mind. What do I do for my soul. To be healthy we need to be working on all three. Some things work on more than one area at a time. In your own self care plan consider if you are more of an introvert, ambivert or an extrovert because how you recharge is different for each. Make sure in your self care plan you are allowing time for those things that recharge, strengthen and heal you.

I've now crossed one thing off my Should Do list and will move on to one of the other things I've listed. You might also consider that there are some barriers to self care that you might be facing. Things like lack of support, lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of money, belief that self care is selfish. I suppose thats another post brewing. They are factors that we have to overcome in our journey to wellness. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post.

My Self Care Wellness Activity
Take the assessment and find out if you are more of an extrovert, introvert or ambivert. Adjust your self care activities to things that will help you best recharge and heal. http://www.danpink.com/assessment .

Go On A Photo Safari

Photography is a wonderful stress relieving activity at least it is the way I do it. I love my i-phone because I always have my camera with me. When I see an interesting or beautiful photo I can take a digital photo. I later use those photos for blog posts, or as ideas for things to paint. Some don't ever get used but there was pleasure for me in capturing that moment of beauty.  "This particular stress management skill allows you to place your focus outside of yourself. Photography is a creative and fun hobby that can help distract you from the stress, anxiety, and depression you may be feeling. The more time you invest into a stress management skill, such as photography, you are being proactive in promoting and maintaining a healthy mind." http://www.sound-mind.org/

The photos in this post are all things I have taken while out walking which is another of my self care activities.  

I have awoken the last few days with a lot of anxiety. I have two important tests looming ahead of me in the not distant future, one to be certified as a home care aid, the other from my massage license.  It is easy to get stressed out about what happens once I pass those tests. I realized that the tests were more of a surface issue the greater anxiety is about moving from this season of learning and school into what the future holds.  I tried to work back from the surface issues to get to the root causes of the anxiety I was feeling. I also got out my collection of essential oils and took a bath with lavender, orange, lemongrass, bergamont, frankincense, jasmine and geranium. I promise to write more about the benefits of various essential oils. They are amazing. Those listed each bring a variety of good elements for helping with anxiety. I could have just used any one of them but I like making blends. They worked wonderfully by the way. I spent a little time praying and sorting things out and made up my mind that I was not going to continue stressing about the future or the tests. I just need to keep doing my best as I study trusting that when the time comes I will be ready and when the future arrives I will be ready for it as well. Sometimes we just need to look at our situation differently. Sometimes we need to take the time to do something positive for our selves. I let all that anxiety go down the drain with the bath water and have had a wonderful day. 

Back to photography it captures a moment in time. I can snap things from different angles. I can slow down to notice some tiny flower or patterns in nature, or the smile on someones face. I can change my focus from worrying to doing something positive and enjoyable.  Photography can be a wonderful creative distraction. Many of the de-stressing lists that I have found talk about the importance of finding a hobby as being a great way to help manage your stress.  

I don't want you to think that I have got it all together. Just like you there are days that I struggle. There are days when stress gets the better of me. I hope if I share with you my self care journey it will encourage you on yours. Todays post is a mix of my journey as well as sharing an activity that I make part of the positive self care things I like to do. 

Stop and smell the flowers and take a photo while your at it. 

My Self Care Wellness Activity:

I love this idea from http://www.pickthebrain.com "Take yourself on a photo walk with your camera. Just 10 minutes is all you will need. Go slow. Breathe. Really look. Take photos of all the details along the way. Get closer to your subject and take more photos. This is a walking photo meditation. It’s sacred time for you to be shown the wonder that awaits you right outside your door."

The effects of STRESS on the body

Written by Margot Cioccio

We all know that stress does bad things to us if it is not managed. Sometimes we don't realize that we are stressed. We might think we have it handled. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of stress on the body.  You may not even realize that stress is behind many of the common problems you may be facing.

• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain 
• Chest pain
• Memory Problems 
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems  

I found this great graphic that goes in to a lot more detail. They call stress a proxy killer and say it is linked to 60 diseases. Yikes. 

My Self Care Wellness Activity: Check your stress level by taking this free online stress test from the Stress Management Society. http://www.stress.org.uk/stresstest.aspx
They suggest doing one of the following to help alleviate stress. Post in comments what you did.
I would add get a massage and you can probably think of other ideas as well.

• Watch a sunset
• Go to the beach
• Be positive
• Sing a song
• Pet a dog
• Tell a joke
• Listen to music
• Blow bubbles
• Take a nap
• Dance a jig
• Take a walk
• Write a letter
• Have a cup of tea
• Ask for help
• Smile
• Take a break
• Do it now!
• Stretch
• Keep a journal
• Hum a tune
• Practice patience
• Get up early
• Meditate
• Do Tai Chi
• Play a drum
• Prioritize
• Give a hug
• Throw a ball
• Play with a child
• See a movie
• Plant a flower
• Say "No"
• Set Limits
• Eat a snack
• Read a book
• Practice kindness
• Light a candle
• Laugh out loud
• Lie in the sun
• Walk in the rain
• Run in the park
• Talk to a friend
• Take a bubble bath
• Avoid negative people
• Take a deep breath
• Ask for what you need
• Go to bed on time
• Walk a labyrinth
• Give a compliment
• Clean a closet
• Go barefoot
• Give a blessing
• Watch a sunrise
• Say a prayer