Wow it has been awhile since I've been here.  Bad, bad, Diane (grinning here).   I have fallen into the Adult Coloring craze and love it.  Yes, another addiction.  lol

I am here to tell you though there are a lot of benefits from this hobby.  I'm sure you have heard that researchers and therapist recommend it for relaxation, anxiety and stress relief.  I'm here to tell you that is a truth.  I know a person in one of my coloring groups and she is a therapist.  She does use adult coloring as a part of therapy.  Note, I did say part because of course there are more aspects to therapy.  Apparently the use of coloring for adults has been going on for the past 10 years.  Who knew?  Not me, although I do have a friend who has colored for years.  

There have been studies done on the subject too proving that coloring mandalas is more relaxing and lessens anxiety more than doodling.  It is an activity that is totally stress-free - just step away from life for a while and enjoy the moment.  It lets us be creative, even if we think we don't have a creative bone in our body.  There is an image and each individual  makes it into something special.  No two people do any one image alike.

There have also been studies showing that it helps train the brain to focus.  I have Lupus which effects my brain.  I have trouble remembering, concentrating, focusing - it is called Lupus fog.  I have to say coloring does help me focus in and concentrate on at least one activity.  I haven't been doing it that long so I don't know if long term it will help - I can hope.

Coloring also is supposed to help fine motor skills and vision.  I can't say one way or the other.  I have a tremor and sometimes I can't stay in the lines but who cares?  It is fun and no ones says you have to stay in the lines.  I can say for sure there are some images that totally exercise your eyes - like the one below.

I would highly recommend everybody give it a try for whatever reason.  It doesn't have to be an expensive habit.  There are coloring books anywhere from $3 to $25.  Colored pencils can be found at Walmart for $4 for 36 or you can get expensive ones that go for $40-$60.  Gel pens can be found at Walmart relatively reasonably and I've found they work better than ones I have gotten off Amazon.  So you can spend as little or as much as you want.   The best thing is that you can find free coloring images by googling "free adult coloring pages" and tons will come up for you.  

As you can tell there are a wide variety of pictures and books.  There is something for everybody.  Here are a few links to free pages.  

25 Adult Coloring pages at The Country Chic Cottage  Angie has gathered all kinds

Coloring pages for Adults Faber-Castell is a pencil company.  The images are free

Coloring Bliss  This site has free pages and she has a membership  deal where you can get 100 pages a month for $5/mo.  

Also if you search free coloring books on Amazon there are a few.  These are ebooks - how can you color something that is an ebook if you don't have an app?  Go to the end of the books and they have a link where you can get the pdf images.