Hey friends,
Let's color!
A relaxed and colorful night packed with nostalgia and, of course, mental health tips and tricks—hosted in Huntsville's coziest art gallery, ByLoudHaus.
Mental health education provided by 57 North Hampton, in partnership with Melanated Mental Health Professionals.Healing made possible by you.If you're unable to join us, click here for instructions on how to create this experience at home.
START HERE
Mental Health Check In/Out
In this brief questionnaire you'll rate the intensity of the various emotions you're feeling right now using a slider. Take Part I at the start of the event and Part II immediately afterwards to gauge the impact being in this space had on your mental health.Put in your email at the end to have the results sent to you.Happy Healing!
in case you're wondering
So, how does this really help?
Coloring puts your focus on something beautiful and takes you away from any negative thoughts. It also ignites creativity which can continue on into other aspects of work and play.
When you color, you use both sides of your brain and develop your bilateral coordination. You're simultaneously using logic to plan and creativity to color. In doing so, your brain is put into a flow state that's hard to access through passive rest alone.
Coloring is an activity that brings you back to what might have been a simpler and happier time -- childhood. A time when you didn't have as many responsibilities and could do something just because you wanted to, for the pure joy of it. To be able to tap into this time and these emotions is very cathartic and enjoyable. It can take you out of your present stresses and worries for even a few hours at a time, which can have an exceptionally recuperative effect.
And mandalas are especially good at reducing stress and anxiety.According to a 2020 study involving 120 older adults, 20 minutes of mandala coloring significantly relieved feelings of anxiety compared to plaid pattern coloring, free drawing, and reading. The participants who colored mandalas also reported feeling calm, safe, at ease, and good overall.This is thanks to the circular, balanced structure of a mandala, which guides the eye and hand naturally and helps quiet the brain's fear center (the amygdala), as well as the repetitive geometric shapes that create a steady rhythm, and promotes a meditative, zen-like state.
Being Intentional
We probably don't have to sell you on the benefits of hitting pause on your responsibilities to be a kid for a few hours, but with some intention, you can turn tonight into a full mental reset.Check out these four unique ways to engage with this environment to improve your mental health and well-being.
LET GO OF PERFECTION
To lower stress, reduce anxiety, and quiet the constant self-criticism that drains your emotional energy, let go of perfection and resist the urge to make the final picture flawless.
ENGAGE YOUR SENSES
Focus on the physical sensations of the pencil, marker, or pastel moving across the paper, noticing the texture, sound, scent, and pressure of your strokes.Engaging your senses, even briefly, can help regulate your nervous system and reduce stress.
DO NOT DISTURB
Chances are you’ve been dialed in all day. But tonight is a gorgeous one, and it presents the perfect opportunity for a mental break. So put life on pause, be fully present to enjoy this moment, and put your phone away.
Make a friend
Did you know that having a strong and supportive social circle is directly connected with living longer?You don't have to transform into a social butterfly, but take a moment to appreciate being surrounded by people you share similar interests with, and set an intention to connect with at least one other person.Here are some icebreaker questions to get you started:What's the most inexplicable thing that's ever happened to you?Is a car a room?If you could change your name, what new name would you pick?
Recreate this experience
In case you can't make it to our party, or you enjoyed it so much you want to bring the party with you, here are some things you can do to get the same mental health benefits at home:
CHOOSE YOUR CANVAS
Get started by choosing a coloring book that resonates with you: one featuring fantastic fairies, cute cats, or gardens. If you're not sure where to start, think back to what you loved as a kid—whatever subject matter delighted you then is a good place to look now.DND:
Turn off your phone or place it on airplane mode to minimize disruptions and take a mental break.SOUNDS:
Pair your session with soft background music or ambient sounds to help anchor your attention to the present moment. Or you can do what we're doing and let your favorite nostalgic TV shows play in the background.KEEP IT SIMPLE SWEETHEART:
Avoid large sets of colored pencils, for example, because choosing from a myriad of colors can feel overwhelming. Instead, start with picking just five colors before you begin, which keeps the choices manageable and lets you focus on the coloring itself.
ABOUT
You Can Sit With Us
YOU CAN SIT WITH US (YCSWU) is an initiative that creates safe, welcoming meet-ups at local businesses and community events to reduce loneliness and provide mental health education.This allows us to:
provide community and social connection while expanding access,
expose attendees to healthy, accessible ways to cope,
repurpose local businesses into ongoing access points for mental health connection,
support local businesses and the local economy,
and most importantly, meet people where they are.