Between notifications, short videos, and endless scrolling, Generation Z sometimes searches for the "pause" button. What if the solution lay simply in a few crayons and a pretty coloring book? Coloring is experiencing a revival, offering a creative, gentle, and decidedly screen-free escape.
Coloring, the new analog break
You don't need to be an artist, nor do you need to plan a three-hour session. To color, a few markers, pencils, and a notebook are all you need. You choose your colors, fill in the designs at your own pace, and in a few minutes, a blank page is transformed into a small personal creation.
It's precisely this simplicity that's so appealing. Coloring is accessible, intuitive, and pressure-free: no levels to reach, no grades to achieve, no perfect result to strive for. You can simply sit back and enjoy the moment.
This trend is part of a broader movement: a return to analog activities. By 2026, some members of Generation Z will be packing a book, a digital camera, a Sudoku puzzle book, crochet supplies, or coloring books into their "analog bag." The goal? To replace, at least temporarily, the reflex of checking their phone with more tangible activities.
When social media brings back pencils
The funniest part of this story? Coloring owes its resurgence, in part, to… social media. On TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, “cozy coloring” videos feature neatly arranged markers, adorable illustrations, pastel palettes, and the gentle rustle of paper. This content makes you want to sit down and color yourself, transforming an activity once associated with childhood into a genuine lifestyle experience.
Coloring books have also undergone a transformation. From café scenes and small houses to animals, imaginary landscapes, fantasy worlds, graphic patterns, and pop culture references, there's now a multitude of themes to personalize your break. This popularity is also reflected in sales. According to Nielsen data cited by Le Pèlerin , more than 2.5 million adult coloring books were sold in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, nearly 1.2 million copies had already been sold. Among the most popular formats, "cozy coloring books" feature simple, warm, and comforting illustrations.
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An activity where perfection has no place
Perhaps the true charm of coloring lies in its rhythm. Repeating the same movements, choosing a color, filling in a shape: this routine allows you to slow down and focus your attention on an activity far removed from digital distractions.
You can make it a little ritual, whatever suits you: fifteen minutes after class, a few pages on public transport, or a quiet moment before bed. The idea isn't to break a record or produce a gallery-worthy masterpiece. A color that goes outside the lines? All the better. An unusual palette? Why not?
Of course, coloring is not a substitute for medical help when dealing with significant stress or anxiety. However, it can find its place among the little habits that make a break more enjoyable and allow you to add variety to your daily routine.
A very real desire to reduce screen time
This quest to disconnect didn't come out of nowhere. A YouGov survey reported by Axios indicated that 47% of those under 30 were actively trying to reduce their screen time, compared to 32% of older people. Coloring ticks several boxes: it's creative, easy to do, inexpensive, and above all, it doesn't require an internet connection. For a few minutes, your phone can stay in a corner while your crayons take over.
If coloring appeals so much to Generation Z, it's perhaps because it offers the exact opposite of the digital rhythm: no notifications, no auto-scrolling, no content to consume. Just a sheet of paper, a few colors, and the pleasure of creating something with your hands.
