Bake the Cake and Eat It, Too
We’re busy. We’re overbooked. We go home stressed (presently about this election), shoulders heavy with frustration about the things that we didn’t finish, or tasks that were left undone. It happens to the best of us. But we are strivers and thrivers, and oftentimes find other ways to wind down.
Luckily, not only have I found my own personal stress reliever, I’ve found my go-to when I need a pick-me-up that will leave me rejuvenated, energized and calm.
I tie on my apron, take down my measuring cups and snag a few butterscotch chips from the shelf. It’s time to bake.
By channeling my tired energy into something positive, I feel better with the end result. Unlike a to-do list, baking has a start AND a finish. There’s no half-doing it—unless you just want to leave the kitchen a mess. The process can’t stop after making batter. The dedication to one task (hear that, multitaskers?) is therapeutic. In the kneading of bread or measuring of exactly ¾ cup of flour, I have control. A day of perceived inadequacy is instantly countered by control. The concreteness of starting something and finishing it is a satisfying feeling…and depending on the baking technique, it might even lead to instant gratification! (BRING ON THE COOKIES.)
But I’ve learned that this isn’t just MY thing. Psychologists use the term behavioral activation to describe the type of therapy that activities like cooking and baking fit into by curbing procrastination. Psychiatrists and health clinics often encourage their own patients to bake or cook, allowing them to focus on an uplifting activity. It makes me wonder what other activities I’m taking part in that may also be considered therapy for the everyday stresses I can tend to carry home.
Building awareness and destigmatizing mental health conditions, the Depressed Cake Shop is a mental health charity that runs popup shops around the country, selling gray colored cakes and baked goods. The shop was inHouston early October and featured baked goods from Houston’s favorite bakers, benefitting the Montrose Center and NAMI Greater Houston.
Yes, both cooking and baking are activities genuinely proven to support your mental health. Not that you needed science to make you feel good about that red velvet.
So, crack those eggs and whisk away!