Life can get insanely busy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you don’t take the time to reorganize your thoughts.
Fortunately, meditation can take many forms, including baking! This can be the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill, rewire your brain, and enjoy some tasty baked goods.
If you’re unsure where to start with mindful baking, I’ve got you covered. Here are all the essential elements to begin meditating while baking:
1 – Mindful Baking
Before trying baking as meditation, you should fully understand the concept of mindful baking. Mindfulness is the process of being fully aware of your surroundings and letting go of overwhelming emotions.
You can practice mindfulness anytime, anywhere. However, combining it with another relaxing activity results in an enjoyable mindfulness session that you can replicate whenever you’re stressed.
Mindful baking requires you to be fully immersed. You don’t want to run back and forth grabbing ingredients and supplies. This might make the experience stressful, beating the purpose!
Instead, you should gather everything you need beforehand, turn off your phone, and shift your focus on the activity.
Next, make a detailed mind map of how you’ll navigate things. This way, you’ll go from one task to another seamlessly, being present in each step.
2 – Taking Time Off
Meditating is about letting go of the outside world as much as it is about focusing on your current activity. After all, one wouldn’t be possible without the other.
That’s why it’s crucial to set your intentions before baking. You’re not just making tasty cookies, but you’re also re-energizing your mind and soul.
Start by setting a time slot for baking. Ensure you turn off all electronics and no one interrupts you while baking.
Moreover, you should avoid scheduling anything before or after your meditation session, as you’ll need some time to get in the zone. You might even enjoy the activity too much to jump into a stressful task right after!
You can also make mindful baking a weekly habit. This way, not only will you rewire your mind, but you’ll also make tasty treats to get you through the following week.
3 – Involving the Sensations
The best meditation practices require the involvement of all your senses. For this reason, it’s not enough to add your ingredients to a mixer and wait.
Instead, seize this opportunity to whisk the ingredients and knead the dough yourself. You’ll be surprised by how therapeutic it is to feel the consistency changing.
The smell of baked goods is one of the most relaxing scents. Accordingly, take your time while baking, so you’ll get to enjoy the smells to the fullest.
The best part is that mindful baking is an excuse to taste your baked goods as you go! You should limit the tasting to fruit and icing only, though, as raw batters and dough are unsafe to eat.
4 – Creating Art
There’s no denying the power of art in helping you destress and express yourself. Well, baking is an exceptional, and delicious, art form.
For starters, the possibilities of baking are endless. You can start with simple recipes for a 30-minute meditation session. Then, you can move on to creating your own recipes.
Even if you use a box mix, taking the time to decorate and arrange your baked goods is also a perfect way to focus on an activity using your five senses.
Having said that, it’s crucial to let go of perfectionism. Instead, enjoy the process and have fun with the unavoidable mistakes!
5 – Enjoying the Products of Your Labor
While waiting for your baked goods to bake in the oven, cleaning up the kitchen can be a surprisingly zen activity.
As you’re cleaning your kitchen, you’ll also be decluttering your brain. Afterward, the result of a cleaner living space will reduce stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, nothing beats the feeling of achievement you’ll get when biting into your baking success!
This can also be a perfect way to connect with others, as you’ll need to share your baking triumph.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.