Cooking is a wonderful hobby that gives you the ability to create something with your hands. It can be a stress reliever, a creative outlet, or a way to bond with family members.
Baking with kids is also a great way to get them interested in learning about the world around them. Be sure to use big bowls so they can stir and pour in them.
1. It’s a hobby
Baking can feel a bit like magic, especially when you mix up a wet, sloppy mixture and then wham bam!—it comes out of the oven as a cake. It’s a skill that can never get old and a reason many people love to cook so much.
Even though cooking and baking both use heat to make food edible, they are very different. Cooking is more open-ended, where you can tinker with ingredients and techniques to achieve the desired outcome. Baking, on the other hand, has a more defined set of parameters (like dry heat and the effect it has on various foods).
People who love to bake are often the most dedicated cooks because they want to perfect the recipe. It’s a way to feel accomplished and to be able to give something back to the ones they love. The act of sharing a homemade treat with friends, family, and co-workers can be incredibly rewarding. The joy that comes from seeing their reaction as they bite into a freshly made cookie can’t be matched.
2. It’s a stress reliever
While the resurgence of “quarantine baking” and “pandemic baking” during the pandemic was no accident (we love it, too), research suggests that any creative hobby can help people feel relaxed, enthusiastic, and fulfilled. According to a study in the Journal of Positive Psychology, regular engagement in small acts of creativity can make you feel more relaxed and happy.
Baking is a great stress reliever because it requires a lot of attention and can be very satisfying to see results in a short amount of time. This activity also has a clear beginning and end, so it helps you to be present and ignore distracting thoughts and worries.
In addition, baking often involves repetitive physical actions like measuring, mixing, kneading, and shaping. These types of activities can create a feeling of connection to the work you’re doing and to other people, which is important for reducing anxiety and stress. It’s also a good way to feel accomplished. The sense of achievement and confidence that comes with making a new recipe can give you a natural serotonin boost.
3. It’s a creative outlet
It’s so easy to lose touch with creativity as an adult, but it’s important for both physical and mental health. If you’re not sure where to start, try taking a class or exploring something new. Pottery, dance, art lessons, wire wrapping, knitting, crochet, and cross-stitch are just a few examples of creative outlets that you can explore.
Creativity is a great way to express yourself and relieve stress. It also helps you to see things in a different perspective and make new connections. It can even help you to solve problems in a more effective way!
Creative activities can help with ADHD symptoms by promoting focus, attention, and memory. They can also help reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity by providing a calming activity. It’s important to find a creative outlet that you enjoy, and make it a regular part of your daily routine. Whether it’s cooking, baking, painting, dancing, photography, blogging, music, or paper crafts, finding a hobby that you love will benefit your life in many ways!
4. It’s a social event
Baking/cooking isn’t just a fun hobby, it can be a social event as well. Cooking with friends and family is a great way to spend time together and share an experience that you can bond over. You can also get together with people from work or a club to cook/bake something special together. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people and have some friendly conversation as you work. After all, we all need to feed ourselves and cooking/baking is one of the best ways to do that! It’s satisfying for both mind and body! You feel accomplished and nourished at the end of the process.
5. It’s a bonding experience
The act of baking is so incredibly satisfying because it’s like magic to watch ingredients you put into a bowl and then smoosh into an oven turn into something magical. It’s an awesome feeling and bakers never get tired of it. Then there’s the joy of sharing the finished product with those that you love. The look of happiness on their face is so rewarding and a feeling that’s hard to match.
Bonding over food is a common practice in many relationships. In fact, a few studies have shown that people who cook together tend to be happier in their marriages and are more likely to be satisfied in their relationship overall.
So whether you’re trying to get closer with your suite mates by bonding over similar TV shows or need to connect with your boyfriend/girlfriend over a shared passion for baking, cooking is the perfect way to do it. Just be sure to wear a good-looking apron and you’ll be on your way to creating some memorable moments. Happy cooking!