Mental health awareness has been rising gradually in recent years, convincing people to speak up about how they feel and to look for help. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists are working now more than ever. While the stigma attached to mental illnesses is still very much present, a lot of people, especially the young, find the bravery and their ways to overcome it.
The world is talking about self-care, which is especially important in today’s world, where people are under constant pressure and always in a hurry. They are encouraged to look for a work-life balance and find activities that help them relax.
A lot of people find it to be baking. Have you never tried it? Well, then consider buying tons of flour, some bulk organic dark chocolate, liters of milk and other ingredients, and prepare to relax.
Baking helps you express yourself
You have probably already heard that communicating and expressing yourself is the best thing you can do for your mental health. However, not everyone is capable of talking about their feelings right away; that’s why they’re looking for different ways to show their sadness, anger, and even positive emotions like happiness, gratitude, and love. We have all heard artists talking about how their art (painting, music, literature) helped them deal with their issues, but not all of us know that baking can also be a form of self-expression.
There are some cultures where giving food is an expression of love. It’s also a sign of support and compassion – we all know people who bring food to those who are going through hard times (or maybe you even do it yourself). Baking can’t replace communication, but it can be of great help.
Baking for others is altruistic
There aren’t many other things that will influence us in such a positive way as being altruistic. Caring is giving. Self-caring is giving to others without forgetting about oneself. The process of baking can be relaxing and allow you to spend some time with yourself and take care of what’s going on in your head, but what comes after, the act of giving and making people happy is what strengthens that feeling. Other people do not determine your worth, but doing something good without expecting anything in return can give you a sense of purpose and meaning.
Baking can be a mindfulness and meditation practice
Baking requires your full attention and focus. It may be hard at first, but once you discover how enjoyable and pleasant it is to think only about what you have in front of you, it will get easier. You need to measure, stir, roll, pour, and more, knowing what you’re doing, but not stressing about it. You focus on lovely smells, delicious tastes, you can play some music that you find relaxing, and give yourself entirely to the moment. That’s what mindfulness is all about – bringing yourself to the present moment without any judgments, opinions, and reflections – and what contributes to stress reduction. Baking is simple; even when a recipe is complicated, you only need to follow it, calmly, step by step. You are in control, and you don’t need to analyze too much, which is especially dangerous if you’re left alone with your own thoughts, and you’re prone to depression and anxiety. Cooking and baking are very often used as a stress-reliever by experts to help their patients recover from addiction or deal with mental illnesses.
Baking stimulates your basic senses
Baking engages all of your five senses, and it’s doing it in the right, calming, and pleasurable way. Baking smells really good, allows you to taste delicious things, keeps your eyesight and hands occupied, while you listen to your favorite music or the steady beat of a blender. You can tire your shoulders a little bit while rolling the dough, feel how smooth and soft it is. Engaging your senses like this can increase the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones.
Baking is creative
Once you have mastered your favorite recipes, you feel like you need to and can get a bit creative, and studies show that creative people are happier on a daily basis. So don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors a little bit, or let your imagination loose while decorating your cake or other food. Creating something both delicious and pretty counts as a little pleasure that you should provide yourself with daily.
Find your way
Of course, it’s not a universal solution. Baking and cooking are not for everyone; there are those who hate to do it, and they won’t magically start relaxing while forcing themselves to bake a cake. If that’s your case, you shouldn’t impose anything on yourself. But if you do feel comfortable in your kitchen, it may be a good idea to try baking for yourself and your closed ones.
©Natalia Kołkowska