Baking Bread – Just a Fad or Good For Mental Health?
Do you remember at the beginning of the pandemic when everyone was baking – so much so that there was often no flour in the stores? Suddenly, everyone was making bread. Ever wonder why? I thought I would share with you 5 benefits of baking that you may or may not have considered.
During the pandemic, a lot of life has felt out of our control. The precision involved in making bread gave bakers some semblance of being in control. Measuring out the ingredients, incorporating them in the right order, waiting…all brought a sense of order to an otherwise chaotic world.
There is something extremely therapeutic about the art of kneading. The action can help you release pent-up emotions. In addition, when you’re working the bread, you can’t really focus on anything else – it forces you to be mindful and fully be “in the moment”.
It boosts your self-confidence. By the time you’re all set and done you were able to actually make something. And not just anything but something that you (and your family) can truly enjoy – and that feels good!
Once you’ve made bread once, if you find you enjoy it – you may end up with bread making being a part of your weekly or monthly routine. And routines have been hard to hold on to during this time. Creating your own routines is a way to hold on to a bit of sanity and that can feel incredible.
Although following a recipe is key to making bread, it is possible to try a little creativity. After all, there are so many different options. Are you going to make a more basic bread, or perhaps focaccia? Or olive bread? Or maybe something sweet? Or maybe you’ll go nuts with the aesthetic.
Check out Blondie + Rye for some inspiration:
Are you going to try making some bread this week?