Watching TV shows on Netflix is definitely one of my coping skills after a stressful day.
I don’t think of this as my healthiest coping skill; it’s not super-productive and it’s sort of a way that I shut my brain off, rather than keeping myself in the present moment and dealing with my stress. 
However, lately I’ve been playing with one of my new coloring books during my evening TV watching – and it is AWESOME!
I received three coloring books for Christmas or my birthday this year (my birthday’s the day after Christmas – the gifts all run together), and I am absolutely in love with adult coloring.
These are my reasons why coloring rocks:
- It’s a way to add a positive element to a mindless activity. I especially love coloring mandalas that include affirmative phrases in them – like go with the flow or enjoy this moment – because then I feel like I am slowly brainwashing myself into embracing the affirmation while I’m coloring. (YOU WILL GO WITH THE FLOW. YOU WILL GO WITH THE FLOW.)
- It’s a visual artistic activity, which is not something I am naturally into. When I was little, my childhood best friend always had art projects at her
birthday parties. I would messily splash paint onto whatever craft we were making, say “Done!” and then run off to play tag. (Sidebar: When I picked up my dry craft at the end of the party, it always looked perfect – because my friend’s mom would be too OCD to send me home with the messy and careless craft I’d actually created. This may be why I get surprised by my lack of innate artistic talent; I’ve been programmed to believe that whatever I do, my creation will end up perfect.) - It’s helping me with one of my new year’s resolutions – yay! I really want to write more letters and cards. Lately, when I finish coloring a page, I turn it over and I write a brief letter to a loved one on the back. Then I drop it in the mail – done! It’s a nice way to keep myself in the habit of sending letters. Also, what else am I supposed to be doing with all these coloring pages? There’s only so much room on the fridge.
