This week's wellbeing blog focuses on the art of zentangling. Find out more about how this can help manage stress and anxiety - get your fine liners ready!
Zentangling is a combination of both meditation and art; as well as promoting concentration and creativity, following the zentangle method enables relaxation, develops self-awareness and can help achieve positive outcomes for both adults and children struggling with stress, anxiety, sleep disorders or hyperactivity.
How do you create a zentangle?
Using a combination taken from or incorporating all five basic marks, these being:
- dots
- circles
- lines
- waves and s-shapes
Zentangles are created through constant repetition; over time you will start to notice that you are making the same patterns over and over again. Likewise, much like walking, swimming, jogging or any other kind of repetitive activity, as you create and repeat the patterns, your mind is encouraged to settle and calm.
Here are some step by step instructions for you:
- Cut out a 9x9 cm piece of paper or take a prefabricated tile.
- Draw a frame on the paper. For that, define your corner points and connect them with lines. The lines can be straight as well as curved –go with what you feel like.
- Divide the existing space into smaller parts by drawing a string (stroke). This can be straight or curved; again, just go with what you feel like.
- Now you can start: draw your first Tangles. Switch from pencil to fine liner. If you are still a bit unsure, stay with your pencil for the time being. Start by filling the individual areas with patterns of your choice. The smaller the areas the quicker you will see first results.
- Finally, you can decorate your tiles with shades or even use some colour. Personally, I love sparkly gel pens – and there is something about buying them that takes me back to childhood and my love of art supply shops.
Enjoy!
Pam Weeden is a qualified professional Executive Coach and Mentor who is passionate about leadership development and believe in facilitating the growth of the person and the professional. Throughout the pandemic Pam has offered pastoral support to the Trust's senior leadership team.
You can follow Pam on Twitter: @PamWeeden
