|
Greetings!
Welcome to Day 1 of the 2026 Bijou Be Well series!
Each year, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, we share our Bijou Be Well series. This is a 21-day Zentangle challenge designed to encourage you to pause, breathe, and make space for yourself through small, meaningful moments of creativity.
In this year's series, alongside a daily reminder to tangle, we will share a collection of studies, articles, and stories that explore creativity and its benefits for mental well-being.
| | |
To kick us off, we investigate the topic of...
Habit-Forming
| | |
When we first introduced Bijou Be Well in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, a 21-day challenge felt like a natural way to encourage the adoption of a new habit... tangling every day. Since then, the widely held belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit has been revisited, with research suggesting that habit formation is not a "one size fits all" process. That said, research supports that consistent daily practice is the most important factor in building a habit, which is why we have chosen to keep the familiar format of Bijou's challenge the same this year.
Today's article reminds us that, more than the number of dedicated days, habits are shaped through consistent daily repetition. Simpler activities tend to take root more easily than complex new skills, making the Zentangle Method, with its accessible, meditative approach to drawing, a perfect fit. Experts suggest that successful habit-building often includes creating a clear plan, pairing the behavior with a reliable cue, and allowing for immediate rewards... sounds familiar! With the Bijou Be Well series, you will receive a daily prompt to tangle along with the Zentangle community, and you get to enjoy the instant gratification of watching beautiful patterns emerge on your tile.
So, join us and let the 2026 Bijou Be Well series be the beginning of a new (or continued), grounding, daily practice!
| | |
This year, we encourage you to step away from your screen, ground yourself in your space, and create without expectation. We will begin the series with an introductory video to help you get organized and familiar with the process. Each day that follows, we will release simple instructions and a step-out of a tangle to guide you as you build your Opus tile... one tangle at a time. If the step-out is not enough, and you would like additional guidance, we will also provide a video of each tangle from some of our previous Bijou Be Well series (we are in a Time Machine this year, after all!). We’ll bring it all together at the end with a wrap-up video that reflects on the journey as a whole.
Now, take a deep breath, stretch your arms over your head, roll your shoulders away from your ears, take a deep breath, and join us in today's prompt.
| | Bijou Be Well Series 2026 - Introduction | | Bijou Be Well Series 2026 - Day 1 Step-Out | | |
Today, we begin with a flux. Flux is an organic and fluid tangle that grows ambitiously like an invasive vine. Take a moment to explore the step-out and reference video to get a feel for flux, and watch today's introductory video to begin your Opus. Remember not to get carried away. There are twenty more tangles to come, and each one will add to your evolving composition.
General Tips: Flux will play an important role throughout this series as we will revisit it each day, adding a little here and there as your composition gradually comes together. We recommend adding a touch of shading as you go, so it is not so overwhelming at the end. You can always add more later.
Translucen-Z Tile Tips: There are many ways you can approach this series, as this is a surface that allows you to tangle on both sides. You might choose to complete all the tangles on one side first and return to the reverse later, or alternate sides as you move through each day. Another option is to dedicate the backside to flux, while incorporating the other tangles on the front. You could trace the string onto the reverse side, as well, to see what ideas emerge. As you can imagine, there are many fun ways to do it, and the best way is "your" way. We do recommend waiting until the end to add any pastel pencil to avoid unwanted smudging. Both graphite and pastel create stunning effects on this surface, but a little does go a long way, so apply sparingly in layers.
Black Tile Tips: Black tiles are so fun. Explore working a bit larger than you might on a white tile, as the pens deliver a bolder graphic effect that really stands out. Try a light touch to help the ink flow smoothly, and be sure to let the ink dry before resting your hand to avoid smudging.
We will add a little each day, one tangle, one stroke at a time. Take your time and trust this process. Now, it is time to take a deep breath and a moment for yourself to tangle.
We will continue tomorrow with a new tangle and more suggestions to guide you through the series.
| | | | |
Shop Bijou's Be Well Bundles here.
Bijou's Be Well Bundles contain 2 Opus Tiles and assorted tools to tangle with specific for each surface. Each glassine envelope also contains three Bijouisms selected just for you.
Choose from white and tan Opus tiles, black Opus tiles or Translucen-Z Opus tiles.
| | The purchase of these supplies directly supports the overall production of the full 21 days of videos in the Bijou Be Well series. We are grateful for your thoughtful support in helping make this meaningful offering possible for our community. | | Over the past few years, Bijou has shed his wisdom in the form of "Bijouisms." They have been a great way for us at Zentangle HQ to bring light to all the little philosophies behind the method that are so important to us. These cute little 2" square cards are great to use for inspiration, to make a tile around, or to use as reminders to Breathe, Create, Enjoy, and Love Your Work! | | Make sure to use the dropdown menu to select which deck you would like to purchase. | | Take Bijou and his gentle reminders with you with our collection of custom Bijou apparel. | | There is more Bijou apparel at the Zentangle Store. Take a look! | | This apparel is made specifically for you as soon as you place an order, so they will ship separately from any other Zentangle products and are not returnable. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions! | | Sign Up for Updates From The Zentangle Foundation | | |
The Zentangle Foundation joins Zentangle, Inc. in their passion and support of mental well being and recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Part of the Zentangle Foundation’s mission is to support studies that provide evidence-based research on the benefits of the Zentangle Method supporting mental wellness.
The Zentangle Foundation is growing!
Starting this summer, the Zentangle Foundation will be launching its own independent newsletter and communications. More information is coming soon. If you’d like to hear about this exciting chapter from the Zentangle Foundation, join us by signing up for the newsletter and other communications.
Learn more about the Zentangle Foundation at zentanglefoundation.org.
| | |
With Gratitude and Appreciation,
Rick, Maria, Martha, Molly, and everyone at Zentangle HQ
| | | | | |
