Whether studying for finals, writing a paper or taking a class, students are often overwhelmed by the demands of college life. Auburn University at Montgomery’s Counseling & Health Promotion Services has been hosting a series this fall to teach students, but also faculty and staff, methods of relieving stress.
Overwhelmed? Anxious? Learn how to Relax! is a series that began on September 26th and runs until November 2nd. There are two sessions each week, Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Global Education Center, room 219, of the Taylor Center. There is a different theme each week, such as guided meditation, emotional freedom technique, progressive muscle relaxation, laughter wellness, focused attention meditation and coloring relaxation.
This last week of the series will be introducing participants to the benefits of coloring relaxation. This kind of relaxation can do more than reduce stress, it can also help to control anxiety and many other benefits. When people hear the word “coloring,” most would be quick to think of young children using their crayons to color in their favorite characters in a coloring book, but lately, there has been a developing interest for adult coloring books.
There are a variety of ways that a person can color to relax. There are a huge variety of adult coloring books with intricate designs, such as mandalas, flowers, and animals. If buying a book is not an option, there are still alternative ways to color. By searching for adult coloring pages on the internet, there are several printable pages for free. If printing is not an option, there is still another option. There are apps that can be downloaded to an android or iOS device. Many are free to download and have in-app purchases for those who wish to have more colors or designs.
Regardless of which method or relaxation is best for you, there are several techniques to try and find what works to reduce the stress of college life. To find out more about the series or about these relaxation techniques, contact Counseling and Health Promotion Services here at AUM.
Article and graphic by Rachel Son
