A few months ago, I wrote about some lessons learned from adult coloring books. I’m still a fan of adult coloring, but I’ve found something new – adult dot-to-dot books. They are exactly what it sounds like. Remember those connect the dot books we had when we were younger? Well, they’re the same thing except more “adult” so instead of counting to 20 or 50…you’re counting to 150 or 300. And when you’re done counting, you could color the image.

Dot-to-dot books offer something different from coloring. Like coloring, they still provide a certain amount of escape and distraction. However, they bring out different qualities. Here’s what I’ve discovered:

All planning is not the same. I found with dot-to-dot books, I have to plan a little more. In coloring, if I make something the wrong color…oh well, I just move on. With dot-to-dot, if I don’t plan, I could mess up the image. This has also forced me to only use pencils (with erasers!) for dot-to-dot activities. It reminds me that even though “I’m a planner” that I can’t look at all planning the same way. Planning this week’s menu is very different from retirement financial planning.

The need for stress relief will always be necessary. Keeping stress bottled up isn’t good for our health and relationships. I’m totally convinced that retirement doesn’t mean all of my worries will be over. Hopefully, every day that I’m retired won’t be filled with stress, but finding ways to effectively manage tensions will be necessary. I can see dot-to-dot books offering some challenge, while at the same time bringing some stress relief. The good news is they’re affordable. I also discovered that iTunes has some adult dot-to-dot apps.

Play is an important part of our retirement. While I’ve been talking about dot-to-dot books in the context of stress relief, that’s not their only purpose. They can just be fun. They don’t need to have a secondary purpose or motive. Part of retirement is about having fun. That’s why people talk about traveling and hobbies during retirement. It’s fun. Granted a dot-to-dot book doesn’t exactly compare to an Alaska cruise. But fun can be sitting on the back porch with a cuppa tea and a dot-to-dot book.

I think it’s kinda cool to see how activities I did as a child have modernized. Adult coloring and dot-to-dot are examples. It makes me realize that I need to be prepared for a modern retirement. It’s true, some pieces might look exactly like my parent’s retirement, but it’s possible that I need to get ready for a 21^st Century twist.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas, NV

I’ve noticed a few themes emerging in the personal development space that center around the need for individuals to find ways to decompress, de-stress, and detox from their digital lives. One of the ideas I heard was adult coloring books. Now before you laugh, check out these articles on CNN, Huffington Post, the NY Post and the LA Times about the popularity of adult coloring. This isn’t a fad that’s going away.

So, a couple of years ago, when Free Period Press offered to send me a coloring book, I jumped at the chance to see firsthand what coloring would bring. Lora DiFranco, one of the founders, said they created the coloring book as a result of “not being very crafty” but wanting to spend time away from computer screens and feel creative. After successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign, she heard from people that, in addition to using them at home, they were using the books during breaks at work.

I keep a coloring book on the edge of my desk and, and when I needed a break or a little distraction, I color. Here’s what I learned from the experience:

1. Old skool isn’t bad. Just because something is old, vintage or retro doesn’t make it bad. Frank Sinatra, Manhattans, and adult coloring books are evidence of this. Conversely, there are some things that are better left in history. It’s about putting things into proper context. It’s okay to revisit pieces of our childhood. And if you prefer digital, there are plenty of coloring apps – my favorite is Recolor – that you can use on your mobile devices.

2. To be successful, you must have the proper tools. In the case of coloring books, you need proper lighting and some good colored pencils. I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy coloring as much as I am. I initially thought this would be a passing fancy, so I only purchased a dozen colored pencils. Since then, I’ve upgraded to the 24-count package. You can do whatever you choose. The point is, to really get the benefit from anything, you need to have the proper tools.

3. Give creativity time. I work on pages for days, sometimes even weeks. Every time I look at a page, I see something different or I get a new inspiration. It’s coloring and I’m not under a deadline, so enjoy taking my time.

4. Having a low-tech or no-tech activity is a healthy break from the computer screen. There are medical studies that say staring at a computer screen all day isn’t good for our eyes. And looking at our tablets right before bed isn’t good for our sleep. Coloring can get us away from our technology. It’s nice to end the day with 5-10 minutes of coloring.

5. Beware! Coloring is just as addictive as chocolate and computer games. I really enjoy coloring and have found it to be a fun activity. Since my first coloring book, I’ve funded a Kickstarter campaign in my area who created a coloring book showcasing local artists.

My only question was what do I do with the finished colored pieces? Is the activity sufficient by itself? When we were kids, our finished coloring went on the refrigerator. I guess you could still do that. But, Lora suggested turning your works of art into cards for family and friends.  Just cut them into the shape and size you want and glue them to thicker cardstock. I’ve also used my digital coloring pieces as screensavers for my mobile devices.

If you haven’t tried coloring books, and are looking for something different, give it a try. You might be surprised. It takes very little time and money to get started and coloring can offer a lot in terms of creativity as well as relaxation.