If Meditation’s Not Your Thing, Try Baking Instead
Even though the holidays are exciting af, it’s also pretty normal to get a little bit depressed during this time of the year. It’s starting to get cold (or it should be, anyway) and you end up alone inside your apartment way more often than normal. The weather is dark and dreary, and who really feels all that happy in a coat anyways?
But not all of us can afford to fly off to Bermuda for some Vitamin D, and not all of us are on board with the whole meditation thing. But don’t worry, you can maybe cure your wintertime blues by whipping up some deliciousness.
A recent study found that people who spend more time on small creative activities are happier and more relaxed. If you’re one of those people who immediately shuns the word “creative” because you suck at painting and all that shit, don’t worry, one of the main activities, highlighted by Eater, was simply cooking or baking.
And no, you don’t have to go all Cake Boss for this to have positive affects on your brain.
Tamlin Connor, the lead author of the study, explained that in addition to feeling happier, many subjects felt that they were “flourishing” or experiencing personal growth after performing a creative activity.
On top of that, many bakers explained to the BBC that cooking and baking makes them feel like they’re in control, on top of keeping them busy with relatively easy activities, almost like a form of meditation. Besides, it’s a lot easier to put a smile on when you’re face first in a bowl of brownie batter, right?
If baking isn’t your thing, or you’re on a psycho diet or whatever, don’t worry, the study also mentions performing music, painting, drawing, sketching, digital design, and creative writing as options with the same effects.
Obviously, creative activities like cooking aren’t a cure all for all mental health issues, but if you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, maybe consider pulling out a holiday cookbook and getting busy on some Christmas cookies.
