Baking is gaining the attention of many people nowadays. Its appeal comes not only from what it can produce but also to the many benefits that it brings. Studies reveal that baking and mental health has a close link to one another. You may be wondering how this could be possible. Here are some ways that baking helps your mind.
Brings a Sense of Control
People with anxiety often feel that they have no control over most things. They tend to overthink and move ahead of the actual situation. Baking has a repetitive rhythm and preciseness to it. Thus, it can even pass as an activity in telehealth therapies.
The science behind baking may give the baker a sense of calm. It also teaches the person that their actions will determine the output. They could not blame it to external forces. Baking activities can also set the therapy session in a less threatening atmosphere. Since it is a regular task, a person can feel more relaxed without the feeling of being judged.
Acts as a Stress Reliever
The joy of creating something beautiful and delicious can make someone very happy. Baking can remove the stress of anyone who engages in it. Baking also invokes a sense of pride. This comes when people around you appreciate what you have created.
The finished products serve as an instrument to bond with other people. Positive interactions lessen the tension that may be building up inside a person.
Keeps Your Mind Off Other Things
Baking can remove you from any other concerns. When you focus on the task at hand, it can bring you to the present. Baking is a very good mindfulness exercise. You engage all your senses as you go through the process. You feel the weight of the dough in your hands as you knead. The smells of the separate ingredients and the combined scent fill your consciousness. Baking can shift all your focus and energy to creating instead of worrying. It has a soothing effect as you stay in the moment.
Enhances Creativity
Producing baked goods pushes you to tap your creative side. Getting the perfect flavor and the aesthetic finish are both considered as art. Baking pushes you to think beyond the box. A mind that is full of new ideas cannot dwell on some negative things. Thus, baking increases not only creativity but also one’s productivity.
This activity can serve as an outlet for you to channel what you feel into something positive. It also lifts one’s self-esteem.
Serves as a Stimulus for Happy Memories
When a person is in a negative situation, it is easy to dwell in it and forget all happy thoughts. Baking has the power to invoke good memories. Does the smell of brownies remind you of Sunday afternoons with your grandmother? Seeing a cake can help you relive your happiest birthday ever. There are more than sweet tastes in baked goods. There seems to be always a sweet memory attached to these delicious treats.
Baking is more than a kitchen activity. If you want an easy and enjoyable way to take care of your mental health, you can always try your hand at baking. This activity will satisfy your tongue and mind.