Published: May 4, 2016

On Friday, April 29, students in need of a study break colored their stress away in the quiet, colorful BioLounge at the 鶹ѰMuseum of Natural History.

“I just finished a final presentation and had a 2-hour exam before that,” said Laura Knoblach, a junior who is studying Spanish. “I needed to not concentrate anymore.”

Knoblach enjoys painting, but said it can be stressful because of the pressure to make it perfect.

“Coloring is a nice outlet,” she said. “Studies show it legitimately reduces stress.I can’t remember the last time I colored something.”

Piggybacking on the popularity of adult coloring books, Sally Robertson, a graduate student in Museum and Field Studies, created “Coloring Craze” to help students decompress leading into finals week.

“It’s nice to take a break,” said Robertson. “A lot of people don’t know the museum is here. This is a fun way to raise awareness and help students mentally and physically relax.”

Robertson selected the coloring sheets based on the current “” exhibit on display at the museum through March 2017.

Butterfly puzzles were also available, and attendees enjoyed free snacks, coffee and tea as part of the event.

The BioLounge is open as a study or work space—with complimentary tea and coffee—for the CU-Boulder community during normal business hours.

For more information about “Becoming Butterflies” or to see a list of upcoming events, visit the .