The Benefits Of Baking For Others
The Benefits Of Baking For Others
We all know baking makes you feel great. But did you know that baking for others can provide a whole host of emotional benefits you’ve probably never considered? According to Boston University’s associate professor of psychological and brain sciences, Donna Pincus, “Baking has the benefit of allowing people creative expression. There’s a lot of literature for connection between creative expression and overall wellbeing. Whether it’s painting or it’s making music [or baking], there is a stress relief that people get from having some kind of an outlet and a way to express themselves.” So with that in mind, the Stork Bake team has looked at some of the EXTRA benefits baking has on one’s mental wellbeing.
Baking is a wonderful outlet for self-expression and emotion
Think about how good you feel when you bake something and then manage to decorate it beautifully. It makes you feel like a million bucks, especially when others admire the effort you’ve put into your masterpiece. The same goes for baking as a way of saying something, like baking for someone who has just experienced a loss. The effort and energy that has gone into making the baked good speaks volumes about how you feel about the person. Baking often says what words can’t.
Baking is a form of mindfulness – it could even be called a form of meditation
Because baking requires your full attention and focus – it is considered an act of mindfulness and can help boost your serotonin (your happy hormone) and bust stress. According to the Wall Street Journal, it has even become its own form of therapy in places like the US.
Baking is a form of selflessness
When you bake for others, you’re expending energy and effort on creating something for someone else. It’s a sacrifice of your time and resources – and it can have the same psychological benefits as giving money to charity or helping someone else. The benefits that an altruistic act can have on one’s state of mind and wellbeing have been well documented. Giving really does make you feel better about life.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your Stork baking brick, your favourite cake recipe and get baking for someone else. You KNOW you’ll feel better for it.