Modern life is tricky, so they say, and it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by the many different challenges that come our way over time, not just in our personal and professional lives but in a wider global context, as well, with the neverending news cycle taking its toll mentally and emotionally on many of us.

As such, finding ways in which we can rest and recharge is absolutely paramount - and one of the best strategies to employ is mindfulness, the fine art of anchoring yourself in the present moment by focusing intently on something.

Mindfulness practice often involves breathwork, where you draw your attention to your breath and the sensations of breathing in and out, as a form of meditation.

However, you can do it in a more active way, as well, finding a creative pursuit perhaps to focus on… such as colouring in

Colouring is by no means just for children and there are so many benefits that adults alike can reap. 

In fact, a recent study carried out by a team of researchers from Birmingham City and Leicester universities found that mindful colouring helped teachers address feelings of burnout, stress, depression and anxiety successfully, with wellbeing levels significantly enhanced as a result.

And further research, this time from Lancaster University, found that many people who coloured in mandalas for mindfulness and a mental health boost liked to keep their finished pictures and look back at them as a means of reflecting on how they were feeling at the time of colouring.

So if you were looking for a sign to invest in a new colouring book, this is certainly it! Grab your favourite set of pencils or pens, or even think about getting to grips with a new skill like watercolours, and start bringing your pages to life!