Paint by Numbers: In our modern world of rapid activity, the stress of every day added with anxiety has become part of our regular experience. Juggling work obligations and personal responsibilities, along with constant digital engagement, makes finding time to truly unwind a hard and almost impossible task. More and more individuals are leaning into creative hobbies as a way to achieve calm, focus, and inner peace.
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One activity that is becoming popular these days because of its calming and restorative aspects is Paint by Numbers. This seemingly simple activity or craft has become a powerful tool for relaxation for people of all ages. Paint by numbers presents a unique combination of structure, creativity, and mindfulness, all of which are attributes for mental restoration.
If you are new or you are already dabbling in some arts and crafts, learning how to be as present with paint by numbers in a relaxing way can make a difference to your overall well-being. In this blog, I will talk about four ways to relax with paint by numbers and how this fun and creative practice can be your new favorite form of self-care!
1. Set Up a Calming Environment
The initial step for utilizing paint by numbers as a tool for relaxation, whilst providing the all-important sense of comfort, is to create an environment that supports your endeavor to unwind. Your surroundings will determine how deeply you can relax and how present you can truly be while painting. All the variation of painting will cause the process to be more comfortable, feel more pleasant, and be more soothing when you incorporate tactile, sensory experiences to your paint by numbers process.
To do this, first find a personal, quiet space to paint in so you won’t be easily interrupted. Natural light is preferred, but soft, warm light from lamps is sufficient to set the tone. You can also set the tone and provide coziness by surrounding yourself with items such as a warm drink, with comfortable materials like cushions, or by adding soothing scents such as lavender and sandalwood with candles and diffusers. You can also play soft background music, instrumental playlists, or even nature sounds.
Essentially, you want the environment to feel comfortable and inviting—a retreat to escape everyday stressors and out-of-the-box thinking to re-engage your artistic side.
Once you have settled in the comfortable space, take few deep breaths to settle down and calibrate to the slower pace of the painting process. Using a specific “relaxation corner” for painting will continue to add value and comfort to the routine, since each time you return it will signify to your brain to relax and will help ease the transition into relaxation mode.
2. Use the Color-Blocking Technique for Mindfulness
Painting by numbers can be structured and directed, however, how you complete the painting experience can affect the way you enjoy the experience. A good method to encourage relaxation is to use the color blocking technique. In color blocking, you don’t work randomly across your canvas, rather you paint all the areas with a color, then move on to the next color.
Color blocking will reduce the number of times you need to rinse your brush or change colors when painting. Reducing the amount of times you interrupt your process will help you stay focused, and allow you to find a painting rhythm. In addition, color blocking encourages a slow and steady painting therate that supports mindfulness and focus on the moment instead of a rushed or hurried feeling to complete the painting.
When you concentrate on filling in one area, your thought process very slowly slows down. Next, your breath becomes more even, your muscles relax, and your mind clears gently. This is where the repetitive and almost meditative experience of your painting turns into a deeply calming experience that is centered while creating mental space.
It is no wonder that people describe this experience as a moving meditation because it combines visual enjoyment with a peaceful focus.
3. Pair Your Painting Time with a Self-Care Routine
To genuinely transform your painting times into a calming experience, you could consider incorporating other self-care activities. This can create a personal multi-sensory routine of care that rejuvenates the mind and body. Think of it as setting up your tiny retreat at home.
To start, have a short wind down as preparation for your painting practice. This could be just five minutes of stretching, some deep breathing, or a quick journaling prompt to help you let go of the day’s thoughts. This preparation gives your brain and body a signal that you are transitioning into a restorative activity.
While painting, drink herbal tea or infused water to refresh and hydrate. Keep your phone on silent or out of reach to minimize disturbances and distractions that notifications can bring. Some find it nice to combine their painting practices with aromatherapy or have guided meditations playing in the background, which enhances the calming experience.
Combining paint by numbers adult practice with slow self-care offerings can enhance the experience of painting and turn each painting time into a mini wellness retreat.
4. Choose Themes That Inspire Positive Emotions
All paint by numbers themes, designs, and images are not created equal in terms of the emotions the designs can evoke. If your aim is to gain relaxation, the theme or image that you decide to paint can greatly impact your mood while creating it. Soothing landscapes, flower themes, tranquil seascapes or pastel-themed illustrations generally relate to a sense of calmness and joy.
These kinds of images can induce a subconscious reaction to your emotional desires of relaxation and positive energy. Another element that can support your emotional state when using Paintt by Numbers is personal customization.
Some people tend to choose paint by numbers for adult kits with personal photographs of a fun vacation, a favorite pet, or a loved one because the selection evokes comforting memories and transitioned feelings of emotion. Including a personal theme adds another layer of emotional connection and satisfaction to the experience.
Prior to your next project, try browsing sample designs a bit before and choose one that reflects your mood or mental wellness goals. The subject will make a difference about how refreshed and restored you may be at the end of the painting experience.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Rush—Enjoy the Journey
It is only natural to be excited to finish your painting; however, it is generally more important to keep a focus on the process and not the outcome since one of the goals of utilizing Paint by Numbers as a stress-relieving activity is the process.
When you rush through sections just to see how it looks, it defeats the purpose of relaxing. Instead, it is helpful to try to think of your painting as “This is my time to breathe, to create, and to ‘be’ in the present.” Allow yourself to take breaks whenever you feel like it, revisit sections later, or even paint only one small section a day; the canvas will patiently wait for you!
At the end of the day, there is no deadline! It may even be beneficial to stretch the process out over several days or even weeks! This will provide you with an enjoyable activity that you can expect to turn into a low-stress activity at the end of each day.
Final Thoughts
In the hustle and bustle of life, the opportunity to unwind in a peaceful, pleasurable manner is more important than ever. Paint by Numbers is a simple way to unplug, slow down, and reconnect with yourself without the need for any artistic talent or skill.
Setting the stage appropriately, painting in a mindful way, combining the experience with self-care, and choosing positive subjects allows you to transform your painting into an experience of daily tranquility and restoration. The peace and restoration experience can be had using a traditional kit or an original designed that recalls positive memories.
Painting in this manner is an easy craft to help with mental wellness. Enjoy being in the moment with Paint by Numbers. Get that brush ready over the paint, color the first number, and anticipate how the color will wash away your stress. Painting your way to calm, number by number.
