Baking is frequently linked to comfort food. Making your own cupcakes, chocolate brownies, macaroons, and scones has recently become quite popular.
There is no coincidence behind the rise of home baking in 2020. Quarantine baking became a recognized activity as lockdowns spread throughout the world and individuals dealt with isolation. And it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering that baking has been shown to ease depression, anxiety, and even tension.
Why does baking, then, improve your mood? It involves more than just enjoying a tasty reward after you finish (although that is pretty great). In addition, psychology is crucial. Here are the reasons why we think it’s a great idea if you’ve been baking more lately or have been contemplating giving it a try.
Cooking acts as a Meditative
Any task that requires your full concentration, especially one that is straightforward and repeated, can have a calming, meditative effect. Butter and sugar measurements, egg whisking, beating, and folding activities all clear the mind and help to reduce negative thought patterns.
Expressing oneself via baking
Like any creative activity, baking is a way to express oneself and reduce stress. Up until a baker makes it, adding a little of their love, passion, and creativity, a recipe is just a recipe. Even when words don’t seem to be enough to express oneself, baking can be utilized as a means of communication. It can express gratitude, love, appreciation, and even sympathy.
A thoughtful activity is baking.
We’ve all heard of mindfulness. Simply said, mindfulness is being present and conscious of your senses, emotions, and actions. Mindfulness training has been shown to lower stress and boost happiness. Also, baking is the ideal way to practice mindfulness, in our opinion. It demands paying great attention when handling dough, weighing ingredients, tasting food, and following a recipe. Because of the focus required, this can help reduce emotions of worry, depression, tension, and more; instead of getting trapped in an undesirable mental loop, you’re focusing on what’s immediately in front of you.
Baking is an artistic endeavor.
According to studies, performing tiny acts of creativity on a regular basis might make you feel more at ease, joyful, and excited about life. Moreover, artistic activities might support a sense of personal development. You can express your creativity in whatever way you like, but we obviously prefer baking.