This Childhood Activity Is Going Viral On TikTok — And It’s Great For Your Brain

There is something distinctly soothing about using a thick felt-tip marker to fill in a chunky coloring book.

And it seems the internet is in agreement. ColoringTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to the activity, has exploded in popularity over the past few months. Over on Reddit, people are swapping coloring tips, like the best markers to use, which coloring books to buy and the top creators to color along with.

Many say the simple act of coloring — that is, using a pen, pencil or marker to fill in the lines of a blank image —  has transformed their mental health. 

Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, art therapist and founder of Take Root Therapy in Los Angeles, said coloring can be profoundly helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. “Coloring was a way to play, express ourselves and engage in a soothing activity when we were children, and there’s no reason that doesn’t extend into adulthood,” she told HuffPost. 

Here’s why coloring can be so good for your brain:

Coloring can quickly improve your mood.

Art, in general, has been shown to reduce anxiety, release stress and boost relaxation, but the simplicity of working in a coloring book makes the activity particularly beneficial.

One study found that coloring for just 20 minutes can help you feel significantly calmer. Another report found that coloring in a mandala, a geometric design, for 20 minutes was far more effective at reducing anxiety compared to free drawing. 

But why is coloring in shapes so relaxing? According to Renée Zavislak, a licensed psychotherapist and host of “Psycho Therapist: The Podcast,” the most obvious reason is that coloring distracts you from the stressors of daily life. “The act of coloring provides a delicate balance of requiring attention — the distraction — along with the sensorimotor engagement of the coloring itself,” Zavislak said.

Furthermore, unlike complex art projects, coloring is relatively easy and intuitive. You don’t need to worry about what to draw or create, you merely have to fill in the spaces. “This can be really soothing and allow us to yield to coloring without causing the stress that can sometimes be associated with the creative process,” Lurie said. 

There are so many parts of our lives, such as work or school, where we can’t control the outcomes. With coloring books, however, you can choose the colors and the images you want to doodle in. Plus, there is a clear, concrete finish line. “We can sit back and admire our work, knowing that we completed the task we set out to complete,” Lurie said.

Coloring is essentially a type of meditation.

Sitting down with a coloring book pulls you into the present moment and helps you tap into your senses. “You connect to the sensation of the drawing utensil in our hand and the feeling of it as it is pushed or dragged across the paper,” Lurie added. 

As a result, the repetitive nature of coloring can put you in a mindful, meditative state, according to research.

This may be particularly helpful for people who struggle with more traditional types of mindfulness. “For those of us who struggle with the tedium of breathwork or meditation, wrapping our hands around a chunky marker or crayon gives us access to a more innocent and playful meditative state,” Zavislak explained.

Coloring may keep your brain sharp and agile.

Coloring may improve your cognitive function, too. Some evidence suggests coloring promotes cognition because it puts you in a flow state — that pleasant feeling when you’re immersed in an activity. The brain’s reward center lights up when you’re in a flow state, research shows, which has been linked to increased motivation and performance. 

One report discovered that coloring may facilitate creative thinking and attention. Zavislak said that one of the more surprising scientific findings is that coloring for as little as 20 minutes may promote your problem-solving skills even after you’re done coloring. 

“This benefit is likely to build upon itself, as each experience of effective problem-solving leaves behind the building blocks for subsequent cognitive tasks,” she said.

Interested in coloring? Take these simple steps:

There’s really no wrong approach to coloring, but there are a few ways to get the most out of the activity. Lurie recommended first finding materials you’re excited to use, like a particularly vibrant set of markers or a themed coloring book that speaks to your interests. 

When you’re first starting out, try coloring for five to 10 minutes, she suggests. If you enjoy it, gradually add more time. And if you need some inspiration, dive into ColoringTok where there’s an endless amount of coloring tips and tricks.

Finally, go into it with an open mind. Experiment with different materials and routines until you find something that clicks. You could color at the same time every day, when you are feeling called to the practice or whenever you feel stressed and anxious. “Like with many other hobbies, allow for trial and error and find what works best for you,” she said.