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7 7 WAYS BAKING CAN BOOST YOUR MENTAL

HEALTH BY BETH RUSH

How does baking help with mental health? Baking is an art and a science— and the process can be healing when you feel down. Creativity, concentration, and socialization come into play when working in the kitchen. The psychology of baking can be a powerful tool to boost your mood on bad days or as part of a greater treatment plan. You can certainly visit your local bakery, but baking these foods yourself can make you feel much better. Here’s why.

1IT RELEASES STRESS. You might be wondering, “How does baking help with stress?” If you’ve never taken out your anger on some bread dough, you should try it. Bread and other baked goods need tough love to activate the gluten and form their desired texture before entering the oven. Did you have a bad day? Make some dough that you can punch and knead to release your frustrations. The bonus is the delicious treat that comes afterward.

Beth Rush, the content manager and managing editor at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition, and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys trying out new recipes and going for runs with her dog.

facebook.com/bodymindmag instagram.com/bodymindmag/ twitter.com/bodymindmag linkedin.com/in/beth-rush-writer/ 2 YOU USE YOUR CREATIVITY. Using your creativity helps occupy your mind when it goes to negative places, boosting your mood and energy levels. You can get creative with your recipes, adding different flavors, fillings, and toppings until you have a creation that’s all your own. Also, have fun decorating your products with sprinkles and frosting and use cookie cutters that make you happy. Be sure to brag about your baking skills to your friends and family, even if it’s not perfect. Just taking the time to heal in a healthy way is something to take pride in.

3IT BOOSTS YOUR CONFIDENCE. Making an enjoyable treat for you or others can help boost your confidence and self-esteem. Take pride in using ingredients to create something that can fuel you or someone you care about and bring joy. Knowing you can make something delicious can make you feel better after a gloomy day.

7IT HELPS YOU REMAIN IN CONTROL. Stress and anxiety often come from a lack of control. It’s hard for the mind to cope when you can’t manage the outcome of something that affects you or someone you care about. Baking helps by giving you something to have control over. When you make a dish, you are in charge of the outcome. How it looks and tastes is up to you. If you mess up, you can make changes until it’s right. This process can relieve some of the stress you feel by giving your mind focus and purpose when things get overwhelming.

4YOU’RE DOING GOOD FOR OTHERS. Research shows that doing a good deed makes you happy. Baking for others can help you feel more positive when you’re feeling down. It doesn’t matter how fancy it is—making something that someone else can enjoy can bring you happiness. That’s especially true when you get positive feedback.

5IT IMPROVES FOCUS. Adverse mental health leads to poor concentration. Focusing on conversations, work, and other daily tasks can be hard. With a recipe you must follow to get your desired results, baking simplifies things.

Doing so lets you work on easily building your concentration. You have to follow the instructions—or you’ll end up with a bad-tasting, burned, or undercooked dish.

6IT CAN MAKE YOU MORE SOCIAL. Joining a baking class or a social media group can help you feel less alone if you isolate yourself from others due to your mental health. Baking isn’t a controversial topic, so it’s an easy subject to broach with others who enjoy the hobby. Share recipes, ask for advice, and plan events. Before you know it, you’ll make a group of new friends. You can also welcome someone new to work or events by baking them something.

Cookies and pies make great icebreakers for conversation. If you have family or friends nearby, consider inviting them over for a night of baking to help you reconnect.

Baking is great for anyone, especially if you’re experiencing negative mental health symptoms.

Next time you feel overwhelmed, try pulling out a recipe. At the very least, you can end up with something tasty to help soothe your soul. ACD