Mindful Stress Reduction: Top 5 Coloring Apps

Dina and I recently launched the newest Bash - State of Zen. We have been working on this bash for over six months and we think it was worth the wait. We combined several mindfulness activities for a small group setting and help set the mood for a thoughtful and relaxing afternoon with friends. One of the elements is adult coloring post cards.

Everyone from CNN to Hallmark has jumped on the adult coloring book wagon. Adults are coming out of the closet everywhere to admit to coloring. Who can blame them? The vivid colors, the sense of completion, the relaxation of moving your hand without having to really think about it, and even found childhood memories - all of this can be a joy of coloring.

Yes I too color - well when I have time. Really - let's face it I don't have time and where did I put those markers ?*!#!?. But sometimes when I am in the doctor's waiting room or trying to unwind at night I do play with coloring apps. Yes, of course there is an app for that! Basically you just choose your color and tap to fill in the lines. It's not for every day but it does help when I am in the waiting room.

Here are my top 4 coloring app recommendations:

Warning: To really get the colors and designs you want you have pay a fee. Some apps allow you to pay for options as you go (adding color pallets or themed page). All apps allow you to pay a subscription fee based on how often you want to use the app. There are a few apps that are free, but they have limited colors and pages and/or have advertisements that detract from the relaxation element. All the app fees I saw are around the same price about $3.00 for a week or $35 for a year.

#1 Pigment: I put this one first because of the options you have to make really nice colored pages. You can pick the format, add the type of color you want to color in (marker, oil, airbrush), and change the opacity of your colors. You also brush the color on rather than tap it on. There multiple color pallets and themed books like mandalas, landscapes, and zodiac. You can learn a bit about the artists and choose your favorite artist. There is also the usual social media options to share your work.

#2 Adult Coloring Book: I actually use this app most often. While it doesn't have as many options for great pages as Pigment it is more relaxing for me. Just tap and go - that whole waiting room thing again. There are of course multiple color pallets and themed books (mandala, fauna, flora, people, holidays, etc...). I also really like the tab for the recent colors you used and a new feature that lets you have multiple versions of the same page. You can send your illustrations to Instagram, get inspiration from others, and it offers free daily designs.

#3 Colorfy: This app is a cross between Pigment and Adult Coloring Book. It has the quick tap and color feature but if you have more time you can also add gradients and filters to give your pages more depth. You can repeat pages, but there is no option to have multiples of the same page. It has several pallet options and themed books (mandala, animals, famous, floral, etc..), but their recent color feature just has the last three colors you used.

#4 Recolor: I put Recolor in the same category as Colorfy in terms of how you apply color. I add it to the list because of the great pages you have to choose from. There is variety and complexity in the page offerings that you don't get from Adult Coloring Book or Colorfy. They do have a few free pages if you want to give it a try. There is also a section in the settings about the artists but you can't choose your favorite.

My recommendation is if you are interested in a coloring app, you look at both the color options and page options before you commit. I also recommend trying at least one page before you spend any money to ensure you like the interface.

Now some say that the apps miss the point (miss the tactile element, miss the unplugged advantages of the coloring book, miss the stress relief) but I simply disagree. These coloring apps have gotten me through many a doctor's waiting room with more patience and less stress than ever before.

What do you think? Do you color? Do you use a color app? Which one is your favorite? Drop me a line and let me know.

Cheers,

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