Ever wonder why coloring is such a large part of children’s lives, both in and out of school? Although parents and teachers have been known to bring out crayons and paper as a way to occupy a child’s time, the real reason is that coloring helps small hands develop and improve eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. According to a WebMD article, coloring helps maintain these same skills in adults. Here are eight more reasons why coloring is beneficial for adults, too:

8 Ways Coloring Helps Adults

1. Relaxes the brain.
2. Improves brain function.
3. Induces a meditative state.
4. Improves motor skills.
5. Improves sleep.
6. Improves focus.
7. Reduces anxiety.
8. Relieves stress.

Source: WebMD.

So if you have hesitated to embrace the relatively recent craze for adult coloring books, give it a try. And forget about crayons. Along with countless designs to choose from, such as intricate mandelas, lush botanicals, animals, landscapes, or just about any theme—music, anyone?—there are sophisticated sets of pens, pencils, and markers in marvelously tempting colors, making coloring a very adult pursuit. You may wonder why you ever stopped.