Ever get so wound up your shoulders live by your ears? That was me, like, all last month. Work, news, even my neighbor’s dog (he barks at clouds). Tried all the typical “mindfulness” hacks. Meditation? Ugh, I just start thinking about pizza. Running? Please. I own running shoes but they’re for, you know, owning.
But coloring? Hear me out. Adult coloring books. Markers everywhere. It started as a joke (I mean, what am I, seven?). Then… weed got involved. And suddenly, wow. Time slowed. My brain, usually racing, just… kind of put its feet up.
Seriously. Don’t knock it till you try. I was super skeptical. The first time I colored high, I had to Google “is it normal for red to look like it’s vibrating?” (It is, apparently, when you’re high.)
Not sure why nobody talks about this combo more. Coloring alone is good. But add a little cannabis, and anxiety just dips. It’s like a weighted blanket, but for your thoughts. Don’t ask me for science—I mean, okay, there probably is some. Brain chemicals, dopamine, cortisol… whatever. What I know is that my stress melts. I don’t stare at the news. I don’t doomscroll. I just fill in tiny leaves for, like, 40 minutes, and suddenly everything feels possible.
My first session, I colored a weird frog. I think it was a frog. Might’ve been a flower. Anyway, I ended up with pink clouds, a blue frog, and a snack pile that could feed a toddler’s birthday party. Didn’t care. For once, nothing mattered except which green looked “more green.” Anxiety? Didn’t show up.
Does Cannabis Make Coloring Better?
Short answer: hell yes. Long answer: depends.
Too much weed? You’ll just stare at the same section for an hour, forgetting what you were even doing.
Not enough? Meh, still fun, but not as fun.
It’s about hitting that sweet spot. A little buzz, not full space-cadet mode. My trick: one puff, color a while, then maybe another. (Unless you’re on edibles. Watch out for those. They sneak up.)
Also: everything gets funnier. You’ll try to color one line, mess it up, and laugh for, like, three minutes. I once colored a whole page upside down before I noticed. Didn’t even care. Looked good, honestly.
Real Talk: The Anxiety Just... Slips Away
This isn’t some big spiritual thing. More like, your brain can’t stress about work if it’s arguing with itself over whether purple goes with orange. It’s weirdly freeing. When’s the last time you did something pointless, just because? Not for money, not for fitness, not to “improve” yourself. Just for fun.
Coloring while high makes space for that. You forget about being perfect. Half the time I can’t even remember what the finished page looks like, but I always remember the feeling. The relief.
Also, music? Key. Lo-fi, jazz, or that weird synthwave playlist Spotify made for me after 2 a.m. one night. Sometimes silence is best, though—except for that dog barking at clouds.
What You Need (Bare Minimum)
- Coloring book (adult ones are best, unless you love cartoon cats).
- Decent pencils/markers. Crayolas, Prismas, whatever’s not dried out.
- Weed (duh). Flower, vape, edible—your call.
- Snacks. Non-negotiable.
- Good chair, or just flop on the rug.
- Low light, maybe some candles if you’re fancy. (Try not to light your coloring book on fire.)
No fancy setup. I’ve done this hunched over a pizza box on the floor. It’s not about aesthetics. It’s about not giving a damn.
Types of Strains?
People get technical. Indica, sativa, hybrid, blah blah. Honestly, whatever doesn’t make you paranoid or sleepy. Blue Dream is chill. Granddaddy Purple makes my feet feel like pillows. Anything high in CBD is solid if you’re nervous about getting too high. Test, don’t guess. Start tiny.
Weird Stuff That Happens
- Time dissolves. Suddenly it’s 2 a.m.
- You forget your phone exists.
- That “oh no, what if I mess up?” voice shuts up.
- Snacks taste, like, amazing.
- Sometimes you end up coloring two pages at once, bouncing back and forth. Not planned. It just happens.
Had a friend come over, tried this, ended up coloring the same leaf green for 15 minutes because “it just feels right.” We both laughed till we cried. Anxiety? Didn’t RSVP.
When It Backfires (Because, Hey, Realism)
If you get too high, everything might feel too intense. Or you hyperfocus on the weirdest detail—like, did the artist mean this line to curve left? Who knows. That’s your brain on THC.
Best fix: take a break, drink water, pet a cat (if you have one). Or just start a fresh page. No rules.
Is This an Art Form or a Joke?
Yes. Both. You might end up with a fridge covered in accidental masterpieces, or you might trash them all after. Doesn’t matter. The point is, for an hour or two, your anxiety is on mute. You’re not “curing” anything. But damn if it doesn’t feel like it.
Some FAQs (Because Friends Ask)
- Can you do this if you suck at art? Yes. I’m proof.
- Is it legal? If it isn’t where you are, just color sober and imagine.
- Does it work for everyone? Who knows? Works for me and my weird friends.
- Best music? Whatever makes you zone out. Or the sound of silence.
- How long do you color? Until your hand gets tired. Or you eat all the snacks.
Final Ramble
If you’re stressed, stuck, overthinking, just want a break—try coloring high. One session. No expectations. Go in messy. Screw “productivity.” See what happens.
Maybe your anxiety gets bored and leaves. Maybe you just make a mess. Either way: that’s living, right?
Now, where did I leave my blue pencil?