If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m on the road for work a good part of the year. That means lots of time at the airport lounge and sitting on a plane.

While I typically work on my laptop to keep up with emails and assignments, I can’t do that at the start of end of my flights as laptops need to be powered down. What I find myself doing during that time is getting on my iPad and playing games or reading.

I’ve been looking for new ways to pass the time while traveling and started coloring. Yes, coloring…as in coloring book and colored pencils! I’ve been buying adult coloring books that are very intricate in a henna sort of way. The books and my coloring pencils case are thin so they take up hardly any space in my laptop bag, a definite plus!

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy, including adult coloring, is a mental health profession in which the process of making and creating artwork is used to “explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem”. Basically, for me, it’s all about stress relieving and keeping my mental focus sharp.

I find the time flies by as I color and I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. Perhaps it would also be good for you!

Happy travels,

Veronique