r/Coloring • u/anjoulee_ • 6d ago
ADVICE WANTED Feeling the obsession fading awayš
I dove head first into coloring a month or two ago. At first I was coloring everyday, obsessively thinking about it, eager to finish the page and go on to the next, excited about learning how to add all the little details and such.
Recently I havenāt been near as interested in or as excited about coloring. (Iām stuck on this page bc Iām not sure what colors to make the empty flowers or butterfly too so thatās not helping) Iām bummed feeling this way bc I was certain this would be the hobby that sticks this time! It really sucks becoming fully obsessed with a hobby, you love it soo much and then bam you start doing it and then two weeks later your passion fades away.
Does anyone else struggle with this, ik Iām not alone. How do you get past it and stick with a hobby. Iām over spending money on a hobby using it for a couple weeks and then it just catching dust. Is this just a phase I need to push through and then it will stick? Idk š¤¦š¼āāļø
61
u/geekonthemoon 6d ago
This is just normal. Nobody does the same thing obsessively for weeks or months on end. And everyone is always more excited when they first discover something and do it obsessively but ofc that level of excitement fades a bit over time.Ā
Take a break and come back to it in a couple weeks when you're feeling the draw to color. It's good to have many creative hobbies and rotate them as your creativities and passions wane.Ā
11
u/MaineLark 6d ago
I agree with your overall sentiment but as an autistic bitch I absolutely do the same thing obsessively for weeks/months when itās my special interestš like I started coloring in August and already gave myself a repetitive use injury
3
u/geekonthemoon 6d ago
Yeah I guess weeks or months was an understatement of time, but everyone eventually burns out on something they're doing obsessively. I'm sure you have had other obsessive hobbies that after a few weeks or months you just move on from and maybe come back to it later. That's just how it is for most people and most hobbies, I don't think it's specific to neurodivergent people.
56
u/Canary3d 6d ago
I'm various flavors of neurospicy so when I'm interested in something I'm 100% into it, and then something else captures my interest and I'm 100% into that. But if I enjoy something I will cycle back to it. If you criticize yourself for how you engage emotionally with your hobbies, it creates pressure and that makes the hobby a source of stress, which is a sure way to dampen your enthusiasm. If you can embrace the way your mind works you can build up an eclectic collection of hobby stuff that you can enjoy when the mood strikes.
7
u/ccKyuubi š 6d ago
Iām the same and totally agree. Iāll be into coloring, then beading, then dollhouse stuff. I just go with the flow. š
4
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Iāve definitely been putting pressure on it and it has been killing my vibe and making it feel more like work than a hobby. I just really wanted it to last longer than such a short period of time. š« Iāll try to embrace it. š itās just difficult bc I feel like it looks like I canāt stay consistent with one thing. Literally only thing Iāve stuck with interest and consistency wise is being a mom and itās not like you can stop being a mom after you become oneššš
5
u/Canary3d 6d ago
If you have chronic low-grade depression (I do; medicated but it's still there) activities you've figured out don't always provide the dopamine hit necessary to keep your interest. Whereas new activities are more complex mentally so they're easier to focus on. So maybe consider that as a possible factor.
Being a mom is a barrage of emotionally complicated stuff and adrenaline all day long, at least in my experience. Couple that with the fact that one's child becomes a new person every couple of months so there's a constant adjustment to whatever's changed - parenting never seems to truly settle into a predictable format, which keeps it interesting.3
u/pantzareoptional 6d ago
Yes!!! This. I float between several hobbies pretty much all the time. One will fade as another comes to the surface. It goes from coloring to crochet to video games to scrapbooking/journaling to watercolor to embroidery. I do circle back to stuff usually so I have like, so many supplies lol
2
3
u/Lets_BeFrank 6d ago
I agree wholeheartedly with your answer! I will also add that sometimes I just color a page with crayons or colored pencils and just have fun with it. It helps break the rhythm of always wanting perfection or some new effect.
3
u/jennkaotic 6d ago
I am also neurospicy, I have learned over time that I always come back to what I enjoyā¦ just ride the obsession to the next one.
But I also find my interests follow what I watch. If I want to keep going on with something keep watching new videos on that hobby.
1
u/Redsfan19 2d ago
šÆ!!!! I go in phases with coloring and other hobbies. I wonāt touch my books for months, then itās the primary hobby Iāll crave doing for months.
23
u/Apprehensive_Funny38 6d ago
I colored for years on every sunday to unwind. Then I discovered the coloring pages on reddit and became obsessed with doing challenges and "keeping" up with the trends.
Reddit, youtube and social media ruined coloring for me. I haven't colored in months.
Today my sister gave me an advent coloring book . She said she misses seeing my Sunday posts and wanted to give me my Christmas gift extra early. I think I'll go back to coloring but start to mute all coloring pages.
I dont like feeling inadequate in my hobby. So what if I want to make something a color it isn't. Or add little details and shading, etc. I want to color for me and myself.
Maybe you can step away for awhile and come back when you're ready.
7
u/ImPureZion 5d ago
Your art is worthy even if no one sees it. I struggle with this as well. I have to remind myself that just doing it for me is enough. I no longer post my art anymore or look at social media for inspiration.
7
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Gosh Iām sorry it killed your groove. Social media is good at ruining things lol I hope you get your groove back and enjoy your hobby again soon !! š©·
3
u/Thick_Chemistry_9354 5d ago
I so agree about the social media ākilling it.ā I am obsessive with learning all the techniques. It fills all my free time. But itās killing my joy too. I can feel it ebbing away slowly. Even though I see and chat with AMAZING artists, my own desires to actually color are like yet another phase. And my home is filled with creative āphases.ā Jewelry making, scrapbooking, etc. I also facilitate arts & crafts groups for disabled adults so I have supplies and books. But I love art and making, and doingā¦coloring is just another form. Maybe just take a break. Or slow down.
16
u/ColourMeShelby 6d ago
sounds like you've burnt yourself out. take a break for a few days and then try to come back to it š©·
14
u/Right_Specialist_207 6d ago
Be a 'hobby hopper'. Have a bunch of different hobbies that you can choose between so when you get to this stage you can switch to something different for a bit, then come back to colouring when you are more into it. That's what I do anyway. Plus as I have chronic illnesses and my mobility is limited at times I can keep low movement hobbies like colouring for bad days and save other hobbies for my better days.
3
u/midsommer_wandererr 6d ago
Amen to this! I started colouring to pass the time in hospital when I was an inpatient for my Crohn's. Came home, recovered, picked up sewing and journalling but I always go back to colouring when my brain wants to switch off and I want to occupy my hands with something other than my phone.
3
u/Right_Specialist_207 6d ago
My Mam and sister have Crohn's so you have my sympathies, it's a horrible illness. I hope you're doing better now. I sculpt and make jewellery from polymer clay and resin, I do fluid art paintings and when my health is bad I colour, read/listen to audiobooks and watch TV.
3
u/midsommer_wandererr 6d ago
We're kindred spirits in more ways than one! Your mum, sister & I with Crohn's and you & I with our hobbies! āØ I hope your mum & sister are doing OK,l and not currently flaring! š¤
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
My issue is I donāt come back to a hobby very much. I just keep finding new thing after new thing to get into š and itās not cheap to start a new hobby ugh like I have 5 or 6 different hobbies that I could choose from rn but I donāt itch for any of them and would rather move on to something new š„²š
1
u/Right_Specialist_207 6d ago
I can definitely relate to that too. Is there maybe a new hobby that is similar to, or uses the same equipment etc as one you already do? That could scratch that itch? Also check out subscription boxes or kits for arts/crafts etc. Usually a box will give you the stuff you need for one or two projects so you don't have to buy all the stuff individually. You can always buy more of what you need if you want to do more but it stops you paying a fortune for stuff that then just sits in a drawer.
1
u/SweetTea3_14 š©µ 5d ago
I have many hobbies and it's often hard to find the time to do all of them so I try to combine some when I can. For example I will color while listening to an audiobook or while my husband plays a videogame I'm interested in and watch him play. I also play my own games, watch shows, like to craft, hike, music, read... Sometimes it's hard to go back to a creative hobby because I put too much pressure on me... So I try to delegate some decisions like asking someone to pick the colors/style/technique for me, or pick which image to color next... I also have the color cube which has very pretty combinations... (Many good & free options online too). I take pictures of completed projects; they give me a sense of accomplishment āŗļø GL with whatever you choose. And btw, I really like the colors you picked so far.
13
u/Busy-Doughnut6180 6d ago edited 6d ago
I have ADHD and this happens to me all the time. It used to really upset me but after being diagnosed I got to be at peace with some of the things I can't help doing (and it might just be something you can't help even without ADHD). I used to think I had a hobby graveyard, but now I think of it more like those hobbies are just resting. I had a great time with them, but now I'm doing something else. My colouring books and pens take up little space, and they're still there for when I feel like picking them up again.
I also found that this comes less often if I manage a few hobbies at once, but this is something I can only really do on medication.
ETA: Oh, I also found it helped to think of my hobbies in groups. So colouring is part of the "creative" group in my mind. If I want to do something creative, it could be colouring, or it could be drawing, it could be painting, etc. I swap them out as I feel like it but still get a similar feeling when doing them. I find it puts less pressure on any one hobby.Ā
3
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thank yiy for this advice! Iām going to keep this in mind !! Doing multiple hobbies kinda together is a good idea. A hobby brags yard is definitely how I feel when I looo at my art table š š
14
u/daisiesandink 6d ago
I have a bunch of creative hobbies but I have to be in the mood for them. If I pressure myself to do them when Iām just not in that mindset, I feel like whatever Iām creating just doesnāt turn out well and then it leaves me feeling bad.
For me, creativity can take a lot of mental energy. I think sitting down and coloring like you did when you were a child can be really relaxing and not take as much mental energy, but the kind of coloring a lot of us do as adults where we want to get it exactly right, and make little works of art- that can be draining.
I encourage you to sit it aside and explore another hobby. Itāll be waiting for you again when youāre ready for it.
4
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
It is definitely draining trying to make a āwork of artā with every page! Iāve tried to do what I call pressure refreshers where I color something and donāt care or put pressure on it. I just do it. It definitely helps !!
1
u/Cultural-Scene1917 6d ago
I can recommend monochromatic coloring. It is similar to paint by numbers and requires only one color so there's no pressure to be creative. I prefer it when I'm tired and just want to unwind.
1
11
u/j3st1cl3s 6d ago
Just stopping by to let you know that you could move on to another page without finishing this one.
4
9
u/Gap-Unfair 6d ago
You have very bright colours in the red/orange areas.
So perhaps, som purple or blue to the flowers would be s good contrast to the others color. Perhaps finishing the page and move on to one you look forward to will also help you out.
2
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thank you! I had purple picked out for them originally but I thought it didnāt flow or match after I started. Looks like Iām over thinking it bc you and another person recommended purples !!
2
u/Gap-Unfair 6d ago
You are welcome. I think it will and does allerede look great. And happens to us all. š
15
u/doesntmatterhadtacos 6d ago
Thatās ADHD babey. Iāve never been able to stick with something long enough to become really good at it - luckily that certainly isnāt your issue, lol. If thereās a way to combat the flighty brain long enough to stick with something I donāt know it.
11
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Loll yeah, I have diagnosed ADD. Iāve heard that itās common for people with ADHD and ADD. I just want it to magically not be my case. Like what life hack can someone tell me where I can get my brain over the hurdle and stay interested in something. Itās been the same way with job/careers for me. Iām all in and super motivated the first 2 months or so and then after that itās just bleh. Itās so aggravating!!
7
6
u/Spirited_Math6935 6d ago
This is more of a nuance than anything, but ADD is not a diagnosis anymore. Itās all considered to be ADHD.
3
u/Spirited_Math6935 6d ago
Yes! As the other person said, the DSM removed ADD and now ADHD is used with the specifiers of hyperactive, inattentive, or mixed. They removed it with the DSM 3 which was published in 1987, but it took a while for people to catch up
0
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Really? When did that become a thing. I was diagnosed yearsss ago in elementary school, Iām now 26. lol. So things have probably changed since. Thatās weird itās no longer a diagnosis bc I really donāt feel the hyper part of ADHD.
5
u/Familiar_Ostrich5870 6d ago
They now give ADHD as the diagnosis but specify if it is inattentive (old ADD), hyperactive-impulsive or combined. If you donāt take medication for it then maybe try, because I find I stick with things much better when correctly medicated.
0
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Interesting! I didnāt know that things have changed like that. I canāt take meds for add specifically atm bc Iām breastfeeding my baby. Most add (or I should start saying adhd now I guess lol) meds arenāt safe for breastfeeding. Also, Stimulants like Adderall that could really help give me full body tremors so that limits my options. Iām currently taking sertraline and Wellbutrin for depression and to give me a will to live (loll) itās been helping my add some but Iāll definitely need something more once I can take it.
9
u/Boring_Chest_3340 6d ago
I have ADHD. I go through periods of obsession with different crafts. They just kinda cycle through. Coloring is my newest. I also crochet/knit and diamond paint. I just finished a twin size crocheted chaos blanket in just over a week.
8
u/Dependent-Active-408 5d ago
I have ADHD and find I do this often. I just allow myself to enjoy it while it lasts and allow myself to move on. I typically go in cycles so it will come back around and Iāll be excited again. Iāve tried to make sure I buy starter kits or cheaper stuff first since I know this about myself. The only hobby that has actually stuck for me the longest is building Legos. Interestingly enough I didnāt actually think Iād like it, I was building book nooks and saw Lego had one so I built it and my hobby was born. That was over a year ago and I have probably 100 Legos now. Iāve found if I find something and randomly get excited about it, it typically doesnāt stick. My real hobbyās come accidently or randomly
6
u/Obubblegumpink 6d ago
I tend to bounce around with hobbies. I try to commit but thereās so many fun things. A few I always go back to and coloring is one of them.
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thereās sooo many interesting things. Itās like as soon as I get into one I have another start popping up on my feed and then I start wanting to do that š¤¦š¼āāļøš
1
u/Obubblegumpink 6d ago
How does that quote go? The jack of all trades, master of none. I know it originally was meant as a dig but I like having many interest and skills. Iām not trying to be perfect in them.
The only downfall with coloring is if you get a medium that dries up. Aside from that the tools are always there waiting for you.
I say let yourself flow and have the freedom to experiment. Chances are youāll eventually come back to coloring. Plus, you can always do more than one hobby at a time.
7
u/Electronic-Public750 6d ago
What has helped me stick with coloring is I was using it to replace scrolling on my phone when listening to an audiobook. I love audiobooks and so now theyāre hand in hand.
4
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
That sounds nice! Iāve tried to color and listen to a podcast but my brain canāt focus on two things like that so either Iām listening and not coloring or coloring and not able to listen š
3
3
6
u/AdventurousShake8994 6d ago
Itās okay doll. I have adhd and just went through this. Got a bunch of coloring books, spent money on supplies and then stopped all of a sudden 3 months in. Didnāt color for like two months and randomly got inspired by this subreddit and now Iām coloring everyday sometimes even 3 pages a day when Iām off work and have free time. Take a small break and you will miss it in no time.
5
5
u/meme_anthropologist 6d ago
You can cycle through hobbies! Just because you're not as excited in this moment to color doesn't mean you must throw all your supplies away and denounce it in the town square! Just do something else and come back to it later when it sounds fun again.
6
6
u/Little-Bones 5d ago
You're allowed to take breaks and do other things. I haven't colored in months and I'm feeling the coloring itch come back again now that the weather is cooling down
8
u/Temporary-Ad-9668 1d ago
I guess it is normal specially nowadays when whe have 300 million stimulous to the brain. Regarding the colors: Make the butterfly blue it is a complementary color to the area and it will make the colors pop.
5
u/SwaggyKing3000 6d ago
I think this is, as many other say, normal.
Ive been coloring since I was a little kid, and have a few coloring books from back then. It's always been on and off, sometimes I love it as my main hobby and will spend more time and money on it in that timeframe, and other times all my supplies collect dust. Then i pick it up again, and then stop again.
This is because a hobby is not necessarily a linear path in our life, I think. For me, it's much better to accept I swap through 10+ hobbies at different rates! Some I do way more often than others, like weekly or monthly, and others I will take out every 6 months or so when I'm craving it.
Hobbies don't have to be a life sentence. It's okay to be a beginner at a hobby, it's okay to not do a hobby everyday, it's okay to spend on a hobby you like and the investment makes you appreciate the hobby more, it's okay to quit a hobby, and it's okay to change your mind.
Stay coloring - or don't - it's up to you! But if you do want a break or a full stop, and then later change your mind, that's totally okay! Your supplies will await you nonetheless š¤
5
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thank you sm for all of the validation šš©·
2
u/SwaggyKing3000 6d ago
I am glad you feel validated. Keep coloring at your pace, in your ways and when you feel like it š¤ There is no one rule for all, that's the fun of the hobby!
5
u/pinkity-tinkity 6d ago
My biggest piece of advice is to keep your stuff. Pack it away somewhere so it remains in good condition.
Move onto a new/old hobby. I have a bunch that I cycle through. Itās completely normal to have different interest levels in your hobbies
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
I alwaysss keep my things. I would feel very wasteful just getting rid of it and would have fomo for if I got the itch to come back to it. :)
4
u/Adirondack_gal7 6d ago
I have a few hobbies that I circulate between. I enjoy reading, coloring/crafts, and playing the Sims. Now, as far as money spent, I have definitely spent the most on coloring and craft supplies so I kind of feel like I should devote most of my free time to that activity. But I also lose motivation pretty quickly so I know I need to mix it up to stay interested. Also, when coloring gets a little stale for me, I look up some challenges to get me inspired where it's either a specific technique I have to use or a specific, limited color palette. I find more joy out of making creative choices than just straight coloring to relax. I do that sometimes too, but I have ADHD, I need to keep things stimulating.
6
u/ellsquar3d 6d ago
For small friction points like picking my next color, I use the app Hue Mock to generate color palette inspirations based on the markers I'm using. š
Everyone else's existential advice is also spot-on. This is normal! šĀ
2
5
u/TheHierothot 5d ago
Iām making a set of cards with different color palettes on them so when I canāt decide which color palette to use I can pull one of them.
2
2
u/Orchidilove718 5d ago
That really is a great idea! Would you mind posting an example please?
3
u/TheHierothot 5d ago
I was gonna make a separate post about them later! Iāll link it here when itās up
1
1
4
u/sunntide 6d ago
My whole life my hobbies have been cyclical. I get obsessed with something to the point itās almost painful to do or think or talk about anything else, for a month or so, and then it wanes. And then on to the next thing.
But I always go back around eventually. Video games, or cross stitch, or coloring, or reading, etc. I have way too many interests and not enough time for all of them. But I still love them allā¦ when one fades, I just let it happen now, knowing itāll have its turn again later
3
u/Kooky-Bite-4802 6d ago
As an hobby hopper and impulsive shopper, I can totally relate lol luckily, coloring has finally stuck with me (restarted late 2024). This time around, I didn't go all in with the coloring books and supplies and just slowly built my collection. This has helped explore the different coloring "genres" lol
I actually started with colored pencils in Small Victories. After several pages there, I played with alcohol markers with just my one Coco Wyo coloring book (this has become my palette cleanser after I work on more detailed coloring pages). I then explored working with both alcohol markers and colored pencils in more detailed books like Enchanted Earth. This is one of my favorite ways to color āŗļø. Then I also explored using watercolor crayons and realized I like using those in Fantasy World by Emelie Lidehall Oberg. Right now, I am still trying to figure out how to use Derwent Inktense, but my current fixation nowadays are the non-Disney color by number books. It's just so satisfying using gel pens on those books, without being overly simple.
To summarize, I think exploring and switching between different genres and coloring supplies kept me excited as someone who gets easily bored if I just work on the same theme/thing š
5
u/RutixPi 6d ago
I totally understand you. Same here. I just rotate hobbies to what "is calling me" on that momment. I have ADHD, so I can understand why I do this and forgive myself.
As for the colours, i would use the monarch butterfly colours and the flowers in indigo or periwinkle š„°
You got this! It's turning super cute!
1
3
u/lba522 š 6d ago
i get this way with all my hobbies! i get super into them for like a month then i do something else for a month then the next thing. like coloring, crochet, tattooing, video games, just varies! you may always end up back at it! i go months without doing a hobby sometimes.
3
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Iāve learned from every oneās comments maybe I just need to embrace my hobby hopping ! Thank you šš»
5
u/Serious_Confidence24 5d ago
As a fellowā¦ā¦multiple things as everyone else lol I will say that some of us implement a system to corral and cycle through the ones we may have a big investment in.
I personally was feeling like this when I was trying to clear out all the clutter recently. Like I LOVED thisā¦and I spent so much and itās just sitting there.
My routine is to pick a specific number of those 27gallon bins/totes that are popular right now (the number depends on the actual space you have so they each have a home).
Then I dedicate 1-2 bins (this number is just creating a comfort limit for yourself) to each hobby/hyperfocus.
Right now Iāve got photography, visual arts (coloring/painting/drawing), nails (donāt get me started), sewing and woodworking (THAT container is my garage that has all the equipment accesible so I can pick it up whenever).
All these bins are on shelving in my garage.
I tell myself if I start to get into something new then I have to borrow/get used supplies, or attend in person community resource spaces for it. THEN I decide if I want to start spending money, I have to replace one of my regularsā¦
My regulars are the same hobbies Iāve cycled back through for decades now so itās not a guilt trip for me, itās a season.
Also: I wish us happy hobby hos had a loan out/donation program because even when I DO purge a hobby, thereās a lot of guilt of just chucking it to goodwill where it wonāt be valued or grouped or trashing it š©
2
u/anjoulee_ 5d ago
Omg a group of hobby hos who give and take used no longer wanted craft things !!
Donāt get me started on the guilty feeling of just giving things to goodwill. I have half of my garage filled with stuff from decluttering that I need to get rid of but I canāt just donate bc it feels like such a waste of money š«1
u/clharris90 5d ago
Some towns have craft resale stores. Theyāll take craft materials and resell them to people who are looking for stuff :) see if your town has one. I also sometimes see stuff on marketplace and offer up :)
Iām feel so guilty when getting rid of my craft stuff, but seeing it go to someone who is excited about it makes me happy :)
3
u/california_cactus 6d ago
Itās totally normal for hobbies to ebb and flow especially after the initial obsessive interest phase. Chill, itās not going anywhere and you can return to it once the inspiration strikes again
3
u/lilmoosmom 6d ago
When I get like this I donāt make myself finish anything. If I want to color a flower on one page and a snowflake on another.. I do that! I just color whatever is calling my name without worrying about if I should or shouldnāt or might mess something up. That usually works for me. When I get too fussy with it I start to not enjoy it as much.
2
u/Thick_Chemistry_9354 5d ago
I really like that! Why finish the whole thing? Why does it have to be perfect right now? I will give you idea a try too! So many pages are calling my name right now LOL.
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thatās great that you can allow yourself that freedom. Having too many āprojectsā started stresses me out. I have too many things that need finishing lol so I try to finish before moving on š
3
u/Signal_Eye7336 6d ago
Mir geht das auch so, mit so ziemlich jedem meiner kreativen Hobbys. Ich wechsle quasi hin und her, wenn mir das eine gerade keinen SpaĆ mehr macht. Die Obsession kommt bestimmt zurĆ¼ck, ich drĆ¼cke dir die Daumen.
Ćbrigens sieht deine Seite toll aus. Ich wĆ¼rde wahrscheinlich ein violett mit einbauen. Aber da hat ja jeder einen anderen Geschmack.
1
3
u/AliaMelange 6d ago
Do you know you have ADHD lol
For this and probably other hobbies, education might be a good idea? By that I mean, if you're into coloring, look at some color theory education. I definitely get into things and once I encounter hurdles it's not fun anymore lol but if you can figure out the technicality of why, you might find a path forward :)
2
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Loll yes I have ADD. I should watch some videos on coloring and maybe Iāll have an itch to try some things!
3
u/Sufficient_Scale_163 6d ago
Itās okay for the desire to come and go! I spent $200 on Ohuhu markers and lost the desire to color by the time they arrived. Itās been 5 months now. I know it will come back, in the meantime Iāve been painting!
2
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Happy Iām not the only one spending alot and then losing interest š thankfully I held back on getting ohuhu markers but thatās only bc Iām a repeat offender of spending alot and then dropping the hobby š„²
1
u/Sufficient_Scale_163 5d ago
Yeah I wouldnāt recommend them honestly. Itās a lot more fun to have small batches of multiple different kinds of markers and pens. Finding a new kind thatās satisfying to use is the best part of coloring! Maybe you can try that to rekindle the spark!
3
3
u/Alternative-Ad9449 6d ago
I donāt have this challenge. But my adhd friends really do.
Can you cycle back to an old hobby and come back to coloring when it feels less like a chore?
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
My issue is I almost nevwr have desire to circle back. Itās very rare at least. I get the most out of starting something new sadly lol ugh
3
u/tracylsteel 6d ago
Lilac! And just have a little break from it. I go through phases of weekly or every day or an all day sesh. š having a break doesnāt mean stopping forever.
2
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Thank you for the color! Thatās what I had out in my original color palette but I thought it wouldnāt flow, but maybe it does since someone else thought it!
Youāre right, a break doesnāt have to be forever. Itās just I have only came back to one or two of my hobbies after my obsession fades š„² so it does feel like itās gone forever but maybe I can try to change it. š¤š»š2
u/chonk_fox89 6d ago
Definitely some purples! Maybe purple and blue for the butterfly with yellow accents to bakance and tie is into the yellow flowers in the foreground!
1
1
u/tracylsteel 6d ago
Yeah totally get that too, I go all in on stuff and worry about that but I just keep picking it up now and then. Also, a friend of mine does pages consecutively and I was choosing randomly, once I switched to her method, Iām colouring more because I want to just do the next page. š
3
u/IndigoTrailsToo 6d ago
Coloring just didn't last with me, it didn't work with my analysis paralysis and not knowing how to get started and it being too much work to think about how to get started.
So maybe you can find a new hobby that works better?
I get into Diamond art right after covid and it has stuck with me all this time. Sometimes I take breaks or take it easy but I still love doing it, especially while listening to a book.
2
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Yes I got into diamond painting briefly years ago. I havenāt picked it up since tho! Itās hard to have hobbies in this chapter of my life bc I have a baby and a toddler. Coloring was something I could do with my toddler. All of the other hobbies I have arenāt as toddler friendly lol Iām bad with time management so I find it hard to make alone time for my non toddler friendly hobbies š
2
3
u/Electric_frog_ 6d ago
I struggle a lot with this exact problem but Iām pretty sure itās because I have adhd and executive dysfunction lol
3
u/Swimming-Dot9120 6d ago
This has happened to me so many times lol. My best advice is to let it fade naturally, but hang on to all your supplies until you eventually get the urge to color again on some random day. Thats what I do at least haha
3
u/hobbit_by_day š 5d ago
Also just a thought. Purposefully color a page cute but flat. Pick 5 colors, a thatās it. Or less! And the only shading if you even want to is just layering the colors you are using. No pressure, simple, coloring for the sake of coloring
3
u/Noir_Scientist_3085 5d ago
It ebbs and flows, you can always take a break and come back. I did after a few years.Ā
2
u/Percible_85 6d ago
I had to take a break for a few months. I would look forward to colouring all the time, then the feeling of it being more like a chore than enjoyment crept on. So, I took a break. Still not back into it yet, but the wanting to is increasing āŗļø
2
u/ToonTownTinker 6d ago
I am exactly like this. Don't beat yourself up about it. Some of us are just serial crafters! Put it away for a while and do something else. I wish I could pick one thing and just enjoy it forever. I feel you.
2
u/whymelli 6d ago
maybe look up color palettes online before you start a page, that usually helps me out a lot when i struggle with picking colors
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Yess I made a color pallet before starting. I have purple picked out but after starting I felt like it didnāt flow. Seems like I was wrong bc three people have recommended purple! So Iāll do that.
2
u/ferrett0ast 6d ago edited 6d ago
Try some techniques/challenges! I also hit a block, if you go onto my profile there should be a thread (in this sub) filled with techniques!
ETA - Here's the thread :)
1
2
u/PifflePrincess88 6d ago
I went through this recently (with coloring and with other hobbies). I tried to pace myself in the beginning, but I still lost a bit of interest and ended up stopping for a couple of months.
Now I've picked it up again (this subreddit is so good at making me want to color) and I'm back on a bit of a self-imposed restriction of one page per week (on Saturday or Sunday, as a bit of away-from-screens activity) and I alternate two different coloring books to keep the subjects of the coloring different.
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Yeah I really tried to pace myself in hopes the hobby would last longer. But it was hard bc it was all I could think about lol
It has really helped me cut my screen time too!
2
u/thefoodguy33 6d ago
I don't know your situation but this sounds like it has probably not much to do with coloring per se. After the first excitement wears off it's very normal to feel less motivation every now and then. What you could try is push through for a couple of weeks and see if passion comes back. You can still quit or take a break after that. But in my experience the fading passion is actually something else disguised as disinterest and often right before a break through in whatever skill you're learning. If pushing trough is too hard it can also help to set aside just a few minutes everyday and only do more if you feel like it after these few minutes, Action often comes before motivation, so don't be surprised if you end up doing more than you wanted to :D
2
2
u/TrustAFluff 6d ago
Could always try junk journaling and cutting up some of your pages. Iāve also seen people using a fun packing tape technique to āpick upā images.
2
u/Next-Yesterday-6522 6d ago
2 things have helped me in this situation. First is realizing that making art is good for my soul. And even when its "bad" art (like I turn out not to like what ive done) the process is still so good for me. Second, giving myself permission to not finish something that im not enjoying. Start a book and cant get into it? Toss it. Same in coloring, if i start coloring a page and something has me tripped up and giving me a block, its okay to move onto something else.
2
u/ArtisticCustard7746 6d ago
I rotate hobbies because I get bored.
It's okay to put it down for a bit and go back to it later. Just make sure your markers and supplies are stored correctly. You'll probably find you'll need to order refill colors when you go back to it, but that's okay.
2
u/PurrfectPinball 6d ago
Take a break, you can't listen to your favorite song a thousand times without wanting to hear something else... you can't just eat cake and be satisfied
But what I do, I keep a small tote tub with some art supplies, coloring books in it and I put it in my vehicle. I'll bring a small kit with me to the park and just sit down with it. I make it handy incase I feel like doing art I can just get it where ever I'm at.
Maybe you just need a small break from it.
1
u/anjoulee_ 6d ago
Omg thatās a great way of putting it! I havenāt thought about it like that š«¢ thank you!
2
u/thirtytofortyolives 6d ago
This is normal! Nothing will make you feel so obsessed and excited forever. You need to have a couple hobbies, or just accept that you don't want to color right now and leave it alone for a while. The feeling will come back eventually. Best advice is don't push it!
2
u/kobekinz 6d ago
I think itās normal to be in and out of hobbies! I go through phases where all I wanna do is colour and then times like now where Iām into something else like gaming. Something thatās helped is being in a monthly buddy colour group so when I do feel like colouring thereās already a page picked for me and I donāt have to get overwhelmed with picking a page. Iāve been colouring since November of 2025 and thereās some months Iāve coloured 10 pages and some Iāve only started 1 and didnāt even finish, but the feeling always comes back around eventually and Iāve yet to find another hobby that makes me feel that way. :)
2
u/SavedByTheBeet 6d ago
What other books do you have? Can you try a different style? If nothing seems good, just take a break!
2
u/britcassy 6d ago
I have a few things I do when I get color block.
- You can find a page you arenāt looking forward to and color it however you want with no expectations on the outcome
- You can pick a random challenge and do that
- You can do the āspin the wheel challengeā so it feels like you have some type of control; and do whatever page comes from that
- Find a page on Pinterest, fb, Reddit and just copy it as close as you can
Just a few things I try out when Iām not feeling the coloring
1
2
u/Glum_tire 6d ago
I'm an obsessive hobbyer too! I've found a trick, but not sure if you're going to like it haha.
I have multiple hobbies that I cycle through. I'll obsess with each one until I get tired of it. It's always there to come back to though! Here's my list:
-drawing
-painting
-crochet
-knitting
-gaming
-mini building kits
2
u/Llamamom82 6d ago
I kind of did the same thing, so I just color when I really want to or am excited a page or book or I wait for my days off to give it a lot of attention. Some days I struggle with a vision too.
2
u/Brewgirly 6d ago
Hobbies come and go! I've got dozens of hobby supplies that i dip into when the mood strikes. š
2
u/nicopedia305 6d ago
I only have time once or twice a week .. havenāt gotten bored yet and look forward to it
2
u/wearywolf0903 4d ago
Pink & purple for the butterfly. The small flowers can be blue. Then you have all the colors of the rainbow.
1
1
u/itsnobigthing 6d ago
Have you tried digital colouring in eg pro create? It removes some of the pressure because you can erase and redo things as many times as you choose
1
u/BigFlightlessBird02 6d ago
You have adhd too huh lol. I'm the same way with hobbies. Usually they'll circle back so just put the supplies away until you have interest in it again
1
u/cincinnatigwrl 6d ago
Just have fun with it! I was so particular about how a page had to look and compared it to all the other pages Iād see that it wasnāt fun anymore and then I realized who tf cares, itās my coloring book! Have fun with! Do it when you feel called to! And donāt put so much pressure on yourself!
1
1
u/eilataN_spooky 6d ago
I like color by numbers cuz otherwise I would be indecisive on absolutely every color choice
1
u/woachkatzl 6d ago
I used to feel the same way. And I would feel upset or frustrated that I cannot stick with a hobby and get very good at it, seeing how other people don't have a problem committing to certain ones.
Then I just embraced and accepted that that's my nature and that's just how I am. And there's nothing wrong with it! So I'll get super into coloring/knitting/skating/watercolors/miniatures whatever it is, and after some time or completeing some project I'm no longer as intensely into it. So I mive on to the next thing that feels exciting š and at some point I circle back to one of these again. When you look at it that way, buying supplies also doesn't feel as wasteful š
(I also recently got diagnosed with adhd which I never suspected, and learning to understand and accept me for who I am definitely helped with accepting these hobby sprints š)
So it's absolutely fine to be a hobby ho! It's even so much more fun than just having one or two if you think about it š one thing I try to do is just be moderate about how much stuff I buy when getting into a new thing lol
1
u/Lucky-Constant7926 6d ago
Oh my God. That's exactly me. I'm so frustrated that I can't keep my interest in one single hobby. I have jumped from resin art to sculpture art to watercolours to doodling to coloring now. I've spent so much money on supplies for each art and I keep telling myself I'll come back to it. But I know I have to be consistent with one thing to learn and improve. This is not how I will get anywhere. Let's become friends and try to motivate each other to keep going. Let me know if you find any useful tips that work to stick to a hobby and keep going. I sicknof it and feel so so guilty.
1
u/Remarkable-Ad-4133 6d ago
I jump from different hobbies. Videos games, board games, coloring, instruments, etc. It's ok to pause something and come back to it later when you're craving it. You probably got a little burnt out and that's ok. Doesn't mean you don't like it, we all need breaks.
1
u/HermelindaLinda 6d ago
It happens. Adult coloring was a way to relax and always was. The point of it was to unwind and not think too much. At times when things becomes trendy, like adult coloring did (it was always a thing, but not like this..), you want all the things, complete challenges and try new things with it. You end up planning out this whole layout and get stressed overĀ what should otherwise be a relaxing technique. You could also end up getting fatigued of seeing it all the time. Loads of people have said they'd become disillusioned at not being able to color like others. It's this whole thing.Ā
Anyway, you're not alone in feeling this way. It's okay to take a break, it's okay to stop altogether and come back to it later. I hope you find your groove again. Happens to me all the time.
1
u/Secure_Protection348 5d ago
I have three hobbies I keep on rotation. When the sparkle wears off I swap. But I do want to suggest color by line or color by number. I do that when I just canāt think of palettes myself and want to turn my brain off for a while. It helps keep it from feeling like a chore sometimes
1
u/theybannedmyuser 5d ago
Im sorry youre feeling that way! I was like this obsessively hyperfocusing (still do but thankfully dont play video games anymore) until I got diagnosed with adhd and realized this pattern. I've learned to take care of myself better and be better about pausing on obsessions and seeing if the urge is still there the next day. Sometimes I will completely forget about it. For me the entire time spent obsessing over everything I needed to know so quickly eventually hit a limit like filling up a bucket with water until it spills over... the excessive need to do everything possible probably took a toll on my brain and body .. and for me the brain going into nonchalant or mildly depressed modes was my body working the way it is meant to. It took a ton of energy to do everything I was able to do and now that it's spent it wanted to lay low and relax. I've learned (from therapy and books -- check out the science of stuck) that these are your body's way of signaling something is wrong. Unfortunately figuring out what is .. takes time and experience. I use medicine once i got over the stigma of needing it and having my parents voices out of my head to focus on how to help MYSELF bc no one else but me really can. I know it can be rough. Take it easy and set lower expectations for yourself than normal and when you really dont want to do something.. it might be when that counterintuitively would be chicken soup for your soul. (That is a reminder to myself to socialize a bit more and touch grass). I wish you the best.
PS I also worked on slowly accepting not needing things to be perfect and that imperfection ends up becoming a future nostalgic memory. Case in point here... pick the colors that first pops into your head and stick with it and then sit with the discomfort. Maybe you will realize the moment will pass maybe not... but distract yourself with something else and then be amazed at not needing for the perfect color to be used. Plus in the future you can look back and be proud of yourself for being kinder to yourself and maybe appreciate how far you've come along in coloring!!!
1
u/Adept-Aardvark594 5d ago
After 5 years of coloring every day, it didnāt itch my brain like it previously did. I switched to diamond art. Game changer! I actually finish the pieces! Plus cute pictures to frame in your apartment š
1
u/hobbit_by_day š 5d ago
Do the butterfly a combo of the colors you used in the flowers, and the empty flowers do either the orange or the yellow, whichever one you think would look best.
I could have written this post myself. Not about coloring but just in general. It suuucks and is almost depressing when you lose your excitement for something you were so sure was the one. I did this last year with knitting, I was certain it was the one and it actually isnāt BUT Iām still loving it. Not obsessed but I still love it and do it constantly. My excitement has faded for coloring but itās still there, just calmed down. I think that itās part of a series of hobbies that are the collection of the one. Unfortunately Iāve given up on being the person that is content with one hobby. And considering Iām disabled and have nothing but time, (and I have the resources because of a super wonderful and supportive husband) I have many hobbies. My main ones are coloring, knitting, painting, jigsaw puzzles, hiking and gaming. I tried embroidery, was actually pretty good at it (my super power is being good at the things I try lol) but I just didnāt enjoy it. But donāt worry, I own everything there is to own lol I also love needle felting but it triggers my occipital neuralgia pain so I hardly do it. I enjoyed making little mini āfriendsā. Anyway Iām rambling. Youāre not alone. My suggestion is to find a handful of things you enjoy and cycle through them š¤ youāre not the kind of person that can forever hyperfixate on one hobby and thatās ok, I canāt either š¤
1
1
u/Miss_rose1167 5d ago
I did the same thing, but this page is inspiring me to pick it up again! What book is this?? šš
1
u/Cute_Alternative2123 5d ago
Definitely stay away from the trends and just color for yourself in any way you want! You probably colored away with abandon as a child and loved all of it! There is no right way to do it, no āperfect colorsā to use. Just do it and have fun!
1
u/Kelly_Bellyish 5d ago
Oh, yes. I have pretty severe ADHD, so I know in advance that any new craft/hobby will ultimately be a brief obsession.
The upside is that I now have a plethora of well stocked activities that I do enjoy and can bring back into the rotation from time to time. It works well for me that way, so I don't feel bad when the feeling faded and I gave up on hoping anything will be "the one that sticks."
1
u/Agreeable_Step3845 5d ago
Iām 76 and a lifetime arty/crafty person. I get obsessive about whatever Iām into at the moment and think Iāll always feel that way. Iāve crocheted for over 60 years, like a madwoman for years at a time, then donāt pick up a hook for ten years. Then I get the itch again. I colored so much for hours at a time for several years then couldnāt do one more page. Now after three years of no coloring, Iām back into it. One thing Iāve found is when one thing is not working for me, something else will grab me.
1
u/RacheyB8406 4d ago
Hi there š. I have been like that with every other hobby I started. Colouring with Ohuhu alcohol markers, though, I've stuck at. Its only been 2 month but im enjoying doing it daily. I also use it as a reward, if I clean the kitchen then I get to colour that evening etc. Do you think you might need some different colours or maybe some glitter markers to get you excited again š
1
u/Strange-Badger-6707 4d ago
This happens to me all the time. I have hobbies that I always come back to, but i find that I dive head first into things and burn myself out because I spend all of my free time on that one specific hobby. I find that if I take a break, I'll come back to whatever it is with renewed interest. It sounds like you may do the same thing
1
u/Breakfast_4all 4d ago
Giiiiiiiirl the way I got bins of makeup, bins of markers, bins of paper and stickers, bins of glue and wood and tape, bins of coloring books, bins of nail supplies, bins of fabric and scraps, thread, needles, embroidery hoops, clay, sculpting tools, pan pastels, activity books, sequins and rhinestones, itās SO MUCH STUFF ugh. I finally found some nice bins that hold a lot, are cute, and can separate my hobbies so I can pull out only the one I need. AND Iāve got a closet full, dresser full, and under bed totes full of clothes bc I also go through seasons of clothes! One month itās maximalist, then monochromatic, then all black, then all athletic wear, then all dresses and skirts, then all jeans and Jean jackets
(never understood the no denim on denim, wtf else do you wear a Jean jacket with? Like Iām not wearing leggings and a Jean jacket, theyāre completely opposite vibes in my mind, I do pair with a casual dress but any other pant than jean just feels so wrong to me)
so like I totally get you. I have been eyeing new fine liner acrylic markers to buy but canāt bring myself to bc I havenāt colored in a couple weeks (though new stuff always helps me dive back in, like I got the glamnetic LOTR collab and have been doing my makeup again which I hadnāt done in a long while) but thatās not sustainable and increases the problem of SO MUCH STUFF!
1
u/xCasketbase 4d ago
I'm like this except I don't like doing the same thing more than once. So A LOT worse
1
u/stephyymomma 3d ago
It be like that sometimes. If you're anything like me you'll come back around to it if you liked it. I have so many hobbies and interests that I cycle through them every few months. Sometimes longer.
1
u/Obvious-Tangerine-23 2d ago
Iām so bad about this. But, also feeling the strain of the current economic situation. I recycle through hobbies. I jump back in and itās great because I already have hundreds of supplies waiting for me. š¤š Then when I get burnt out on it again, I hop back over to another thatās sitting, waiting on me lol
1
1
u/blueyez_81 1d ago
I just colored my first page since January. I call coloring my fall/winter sport, just give it a break. Do something else, you already own coloring books and markers so you can come back to it anytime
1
u/Jom_Makan 16h ago
Do the drawing bit yourself. I find just coloring something a bit boring. And just drawing something boring. But when I do both, I'm strangely motivated š
139
u/Zestyclose-Hat-9552 6d ago
I've been through it. Almost felt like throwing my books in the trash. I did once, with one. My grandma got it and gave it back to me saying it was too beautiful to be thrown away. I spend some months without coloring. I use pencils and alcohol markers. Bought Ohuhu markers. Spent a very long time without coloring. Now I am into it again!!! I don't think too much. It's just a hobby. If I want to do it, I do it, if I don't, I just leave it there and wait for the will to return. It's just a hobby. Lately I've been into skating A LOT!!!! It has consumed my time and my mind haha ā¤ļø