How Paint by Numbers Helps You in Your Daily Life

Painting can increase your connection to creativity and joy.

Much like being in the gym, or working on a craft project, or taking up a new hobby, painting is a form of self-expression. It's also a great way to deal with stress. If you're feeling overwhelmed, or lack confidence in your skills as an artist, paint something—anything—that will give you pleasure and a sense of accomplishment.

As far as I know, people who paint are not more creative than anyone else; but they are more willing to try new things and take risks because they see their artwork as something that can have meaning beyond its practical uses

It provides opportunities for deeper observation and concentration.

You may think, “I'm an adult now. I have real responsibilities, and I can't just sit around drawing anymore.” But what you may not realize is how much your artistic skills have deteriorated since you were younger. It's not because you're any less creative or talented—it's just that life gets in the way and those skills get rusty through lack of use.

This is exactly where paint by numbers comes in. Painting is one of the most relaxing activities for adults and has many proven benefits for mental health, including improved concentration and mindfulness.*

• (We won't go into all of them here, but if you want to learn more about the mindfulness benefits of painting with a paint by numbers kit, check out this article from Psychology Today.)

It's really fun, and that's important.

Painting by number is a fun, creative way to dip your toe into the world of art. So many people are intimidated by the idea, but it really is super easy. Once you get over the initial shock of seeing something made on paper and actually paint it, you'll be hooked.

But don't worry if you don't think you're good at it yet—even though we have degrees in fine arts and have been painting for years without any training (and sometimes with mistakes!), we were fans of this method long before anyone knew what it was called or how to do it. We first tried painting by number when we were kids, experimenting with our favorite hobby—yarn animal art. We loved making something out of nothing and being surprised at how pretty our creations looked when they came together in a pile on our bedroom floor one afternoon. A happy accident turned into an obsession that led us all the way to being co-founders of a successful business coaching others through their own creative journeys (www.makeyourartworkworkforyou.)

Focus on the process instead of the outcome, and you'll be happier with the result.

When you're painting by numbers, it's the process that counts. Focus on the moment and enjoy it. The final outcome is not what matters—it’s the process of working on it that brings you happiness.

Painting by numbers can help shift your focus away from outcomes and help you learn to appreciate and enjoy processes. By focusing on the task at hand, you'll see better results and be happier with them when they do come around.

Painting is good for you.

In life, we focus too much on the outcome. We want to get a promotion, lose 10 pounds, hit the next rung on the career ladder—and while these are all things to strive for, we often don’t focus enough on the journey. The journey is where you learn and grow. It’s where you figure out what you like and don’t like. It’s where you discover talents that may have been hidden from view up until now—maybe even talents you didn’t know existed. You can think of it as a treasure hunt; when your focus is on the process rather than simply reaching some coveted goal, that’s when life really becomes fun and exciting; that’s when improvement happens naturally instead of through force or coercion.

Paint by numbers teaches us precisely this lesson: to let go of focusing solely on the outcome (the final image). Instead, we should enjoy painting each individual color in its place. That one stroke doesn't matter in comparison with how many more strokes will come after it or how similar its neighboring colors look to it at first glance: just paint it! And then watch as all of those little moments of coloring build upon one another into an impressive work of art—an artwork that belongs wholly to you because every part has been created by your own hand, with your own style and personality lending itself to every brushstroke!

Remember to see our Best Sellers collection and start painting.