The bottom line: these stress relief coloring books have research as well as word-of-mouth testimonials to show that they can be great for stress relief. How does one choose between the options available? I was pleased to receive some sample books to compare, and I recommend them all. They are each created with standard-weight pages that are blank on one side, so markers can be used to color one side without bleeding through to another picture; this also makes it easier to frame your finished product, if you choose. Each book, however, has certain advantages and disadvantages, so it helps to match the book to your needs. Here are some of the most popular stress relief coloring books on the market now. Each of the mandalas include intricate patterns and shapes that can be engaging and relaxing to color, though some will draw your eye even more than others, depending on your personality. These mandalas are less detailed than some others, but still quite intricate. I would recommend them for those who would like an engaging 10-20 minutes of coloring per mandala, but don’t want to work too hard at the coloring process. These mandalas can be colored more quickly than some, but can also be colored with great detail if desired. What you will end up with is a beautiful, unique creation, but the process itself will be an engaging one. Pros: Beautiful mandalas, can be completed in a relatively short sittingCons: Page numbers at the bottom of the page make these mandalas more appropriate for keeping in the book than for framing, though they can be cut out of the book. It would be more difficult to use certain pens with these mandalas—a fine tip is necessary for markers, and crayons would not work well here—but the mandalas themselves might be more frame-worthy in the end, and will keep you busy longer. (You may find yourself completing them a section at a time among multiple sessions if you don’t have time for longer coloring sessions). As with all mandala coloring books, some of these madalas will be more appealing to you than others, but they are all beautiful, all involve intricate patterns, and all can bring significant stress relief. Pros: There are no page numbers on the pages, so the pictures will be easier to frame, if you end up wanting to share your finished product with the world, or simply enjoy it as part of your daily life.Cons: There are fewer mandalas included, and these mandalas will take longer to complete than some, but that’s not necessarily a “con” for everyone. Pros: These designs are beautiful and fun to color, and, once colored, look great. They are large enough to easily color, but detailed enough to be fun to color. The paper is also good quality.Cons: There is less research on the benefits of coloring regular patterned pictures than of coloring mandalas, and mandalas have more history as a calming activity as well, so some people may feel more drawn to mandala coloring books. This is not necessarily a “con,” however, as others may shy away from mandalas for personal reasons as well. Pros: The designs are beautiful, and the paper is good quality. There is more background space to color, so the paisley designs could be colored in one sitting and the backgrounds could be colored at another time when you are in less of a mood to focus closely on what you’re coloring.Cons: Again, because the patterns are smaller and more detailed, they may be more challenging to color, and this may feel less relaxing for some.
