In the past, we've taken our cues from French women when it comes to staying slim and stylish. Now, we may want to follow their example when it comes to relaxing. So how exactly do the ladies of France fend off stress? Simple: they colour.
According to an article in the Huffington Post, more and more French women are soothing their frayed nerves by picking up Prismacolors. But they aren't borrowing their children's colouring books; publishers are marketing books, replete with "landscapes and psychedelic scenes," targeted specially for adults.
And there are 1,000-member strong Facebook groups dedicated to the pastime. Cynthia Riviere started one such group.
“I realized that colouring makes my headaches go away," said the 35-year-old housewife, who spends at least an hour a day colouring. "I concentrate, my breathing slows down and I move into a deep calm."
Beyond a mere hobby, for many French women colouring is prized for its meditative and therapeutic qualities, and is "especially helpful for people dealing with racing thoughts, stress, and anxiety."
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