Have you ever had a rough day and then wanted nothing more than to go home and bake your favorite cookies, some brownies, or maybe some banana bread? Well that’s because baking has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and that’s what we’re talking about today, so let’s get started!
(image via: epicurious)
Baking is the Ultimate Distraction
Psychologists will tell us that when we’re stressed out or feeling super anxious we want nothing more than to just forget about whatever it is that is making us feel that way; while a lot of us can’t simply forget about what it is that’s stressing us out, we can distract ourselves. Baking forces us to focus on ingredients, measurements, licking the bowl (oh, come on, you know you do it!)
Repetition Calms Us Down
Repetition in baking looks a lot like kneading dough, measuring ingredients, even cookie or cake decorating, all of which can be very soothing to an anxious or stressed-out mind.
Sweet Memories
Baking is something that evokes all of our senses, and for some of us this stirs up some of the best, most comforting memories. Think about the time of year you want to bake the most. Is it the holidays? When you stop to think about why you want to bake more at Christmastime is it because you have fond memories of baking with family members?
The End Result is So Good
What happens after all of the recipe reading, ingredient measuring, and decorating? You get to eat it. And by this point, you’ve done all of the relaxing things so you probably find that your mind and body are feeling all-around more relaxed. Now you get to enjoy the fruits, or rather chocolate chip cookies, of your labor. And we find it hard to cry and eat dessert at the same time.
Head Baker in Control
Oftentimes when we’re feeling overly stressed or anxious, things have more than likely gotten a little out of control, odds are, something is out of our hands, but baking puts us back in the captain’s chair. So not only are we distracted, but we’re back in control of something, even if it is just where frosting colors go.
(image via: the gunny sack)
So the next time you’re feeling overly stressed or anxious, think about what baked good sounds the best to you, find a recipe you can handle, and get busy baking! By the time you’re done and reaping the benefits, you’ll have forgotten all about whatever it was that was stressing you out! Well, you’ll probably still remember, but you’ll have a clearer mind about it and that’s a big plus!