How a Sketchbook Helps You in Dealing with Stress

Tantowi Gilang
6 min readAug 20, 2021

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Sketching has an almost therapeutic quality. It can be a great way to let out frustration, and some even use it as a way to express anger. http://Photo by Daria Tumanova on

Sketching has always been a hobby for me. What I like about sketching is not the result itself, but the process itself. When you draw something, you must forget everything else and focus on that piece of paper in front of you. You just do it and draw something that is not there. Let your imagination fly free. In this way, your mind can rest from everyday pressures and anxieties. Stress comes in many forms. It can be physical, emotional, or financial.

When it comes to your physical health, you can experience weeks of headaches, stomach aches, or the irresistible desire to overeat. Physical stress can also cause physical changes like headaches or joint pain. If stress is affecting your mental health, you may experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, or thinking problems. Stress and anxiety are problems that we all face at some point in our lives, and it is destructive if not managed carefully. In today’s digital age, too many people become stressed because of overload from work or even just consuming too much information. This will cause them to lose focus and they start to feel anxiety.

The Benefits of Drawing and Painting as Stress Relievers

Drawing and painting are beneficial for people of all ages. Even the most experienced artists will find drawing and painting not only come with stress-relieving properties but also have physical, psychological and emotional benefits which can be realized even after minimal involvement with a creative activity such as this. Drawing and painting can help release your stress by providing a good outlet for your frustrations, and expressing yourself in a new medium, painting has similar stress-relieving effects. Both activities have other cognitive and physical benefits that can help make you a more complete person, and lead to higher levels of self-actualization.

When you are stress-free, you are able to focus better on what you want to achieve in your art. Drawing takes your mind off of things that are bothering you and allows you to relax. In my experience, creative stress relievers like art and drawing have the added benefit of being stress-relieving. I have always found that relaxing and taking care of ourselves physically and mentally can help reduce stress. When our minds are busy with activities that prevent us from being stressed out, we are less likely to experience negative emotions like anxiety and depression.

How to Use a Sketchbook as a Stress Reliever?

I’ve been sketching on and off for years, but I’ve recently started using it as a stress reliever and have come to enjoy the process. I’m not great at drawing, but the sketchbook provides a space to screw up. Sketching in a sketchbook helps bring objective order to an unruly world by activating the imagination. It is a tool that serves as a time-filler, stress reliever and creative release that is all too often overlooked in favor of social media. The idea is simple: as you focus on your drawing, you will forget about the anxiety or unpleasantness that’s making you tense. As a bonus, the very act of focusing on an image will mobilize your visual memory. So in addition to feeling less stressed, you’ll be building up a useful skill at the same time.

Stress can be debilitating, even debilitating in the best of circumstances. It can paralyze us into inaction and make us slip into unhealthy patterns of behavior. When you are feeling crushed by stress you may begin to make poor decisions that put your well-being at risk. It is important to take precautions to avoid these dangers and try to regain control over your situation. This is where the power of a sketchbook comes in. A sketchbook is an invaluable tool for anyone facing life’s challenges in an unfazed state. Write down any feelings you have that are bothering you. Using a sketchbook can help you focus on what’s important. When you’re feeling particularly stressed write down two or three things that make you angry. Then close down your sketchbook and breathe deeply for 30 seconds. This action will help clear your mind and make room for other more constructive thoughts.

As an Alternative, You May Consider Finding Coloring Books Designed for Adults

Stress is a very widespread phenomenon in modern life and adult coloring books are an excellent way to reduce it. Most people associate stress with negative external factors such as their work, relationships, money issues and other such factors. However, there is another deep-rooted reason for stress which is not often talked about or addressed. Stress can be internal as well that is caused by the thoughts and emotions that most of us fail to observe or treat properly. Fortunately, there are many quick ways to relieve stress which include the use of relaxation techniques. You can use simple methods such as buying coloring books for adults to relieve stress and also have fun during your leisure time. It is a huge trend and a great way to unwind from life and just relax.

It’s important to keep your stress and anxiety levels as low as possible, and coloring books are one way that you can do so. Source: http://Photo by J. Kelly Brito on

Draw Something Every Day, Eventually, It Would Become a Habit

I’m sure you have heard the cliched phrase ‘practice makes perfect’ before. It becomes a cliche because of its basis in truth. When I am angry or upset, I draw random sketches to let my emotions out. It’s a proven way to beat stress and it’s something I started doing when I was a kid. Drawing has been an interest of mine since I was a child. Trading cards with friends, writing stories, anything that inspires you and gets your creative juices flowing is an excellent way to beat stress. The best part about drawing is you can do it anytime, anywhere. Stress eats at your energy and energy drains away from you. A sketchbook can help you cope with stress by making it easier for you to visualize solutions to problems. You might find that using a sketchbook will give you more energy in the future and this can help you when you need to work through a stressful situation; when you feel stuck or when something big’s coming up and you want to know whether there’s another way out of it.

If You Can’t Think, Draw

Drawing can be a valuable exercise to reduce stress when you feel overwhelmed. And not just because drawing gives you a break from wondering whether you should be doing something else, but because drawing can actually help you think more clearly. The simple act of putting pen to paper can help you think more clearly, as you focus and plan your ideas while recording them in concrete form. Drawing isn’t just for art classes, it is a practice that can help you become more productive in your day-to-day life.

Try some simple exercises to clear your mind and feel less anxious, stressed out or worried. One of the best ways to start is to draw a picture. You might want to start with something simple like the outline of a house or a cute animal. As you become more comfortable with drawing, begin adding more detailed pictures and segments that allow you to focus on specific feelings or thoughts. It’s important that you keep these drawings as short as possible (under a minute).

Stress is a normal part of life. It can be adapted to and even alleviated by proper social support systems, such as therapy or religion. However, if this does not work or if the stress continues to grow, then medication may be prescribed. Alcohol and illegal drugs can also exacerbate stress and worsen the symptoms of depression or anxiety. For this reason, it is important to avoid these substances during stressful times so you can remain productive and focused.

Drawing is not just what I do for a living; it’s also one of my passions. I never miss drawing. It’s a habit that keeps me sane in the midst of the tense competition out there in the working field. It helps me think, brainstorm and come up with suggestions, which makes me more productive.

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Tantowi Gilang

Grew up drawing and designing. Now I make videos for a living and love every second of them. https://linktr.ee/tantowigilang