When you think of self-care, you probably think of getting more rest, taking a long bath, or relaxing with a favorite hobby. But in some ways, cooking is also a form of self-care. If you learn to harness this powerful practice properly, you’ll set yourself up for less stress, improved wellbeing, and of course, some delicious meals.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Cooking
Let’s start by exploring some of the therapeutic benefits of cooking.
- The environment. First, cooking can be relaxing and inspiring if you do it in the right environment. If you have an outdoor kitchen, for example, cooking is an opportunity to get some fresh air, enjoy some sunshine, and relax in the peace of your own backyard. Cooking itself may be more pleasant as well, since you’ll have an easier time dispersing odors and cleaning up. That said, almost any kitchen environment can be more comforting and relaxing if you’re willing to put in the work to upgrade it. Having more space to work with, being surrounded by aesthetics that you find to be beautiful, and defining the space as your own can all contribute to a more pleasant, relaxing cooking environment.
- The meditative process. There are many acts within the umbrella of cooking that have the capacity to be meditative. For example, when chopping vegetables like onions, you’ll employ a simple, repetitious technique – and one that requires focus. Methodically going through these repetitive motions, and entering a flow state, you’ll naturally shed stress and become more focused on the present moment. As long as you aren’t scrambling to cook things as quickly as possible, this is an opportunity to slow down and bring yourself to the present.
- The sensory experience. Many people also find the sensory experience of cooking to be enriching and rewarding, and there are things you can do to make the sensory experience even better. As a simple example, you’ll have the opportunity to smell and taste everything that you create. This is also an opportunity for you to listen to some of your favorite music or podcasts, adding an audio layer to the experience. With some mood lighting thrown in the mix, you can turn it into the ultimate relaxing activity.
- The autonomy. When cooking by yourself, you’ll have total autonomy. You can choose the recipes that you make, the order of steps you follow, and the little changes that you implement to make this dish your own. The more autonomy you have, the more engaged with the experience you’ll be.
- The achievement. Accomplishments are critical for self-esteem and confidence. Pushing yourself to your natural limits, growing as a person, and succeeding in doing something extraordinary are all ways to improve your self-image and ultimately boost your mood. Successfully creating a complicated dish or coming up with a creation all of your own can lead to a powerful self-esteem boost.
The Value of Nutrition and Taste
Don’t forget that cooking is mostly a matter of creating delicious and nutritious food. When you cook for yourself, you’ll provide yourself the opportunity to eat something that’s not only good for you, but also tasty. This very experience is a form of treating yourself, and it can help you feel better, regardless of what else is going on in your life.
Making Cooking Work for You
These are some strategies that can help make cooking work for you as a form of self-care:
- Start with easy comfort foods. If you’re intimidated by cooking, or if you’re still learning the basics, start with some easy comfort foods. There are some recipes that even people with zero kitchen experience can master.
- Create your own processes. Although it’s good to learn the elements of cooking from others, you also need to create your own processes. Different styles appealed to different types of people.
- Perfect your environment. Make the environment truly your own. You’ll enjoy cooking more and do it more often if it’s in a location that inspires you.
- Learn the fundamentals of nutrition. Nutrition is a complex subject, but it’s one that you can master – at least on a fundamental level. At minimum, you should understand how different macronutrients work and how to integrate nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables into a variety of dishes.
- Challenge yourself. As you gain more experience, try to challenge yourself. Work with ingredients you’ve never worked with before, and try creating some recipes of your own. You might be surprised at what you’re capable of once you start pushing your own limits.
Improving your cooking and cooking more often is a way of treating yourself better. In addition to getting the opportunity to relax and destress, you’ll provide yourself healthier, more robust meals that can keep your energy levels up.
