In hectic times like these, mindfulness and finding the time to relax, are necessary if we don’t want to sit at home with a burnout right away. Of course not everyone feels like meditating on a rug for 30 minutes or more. So we at Blogzine went in search of a good alternative. In this article our intern Jan tells us how you can become totally zen while cooking and moreover enjoy a delicious meal afterwards.

Daily event

Cooking is a daily activity that many of us look up to. After all, it is much easier to take something ready-to-eat from the fridge. Or place an order at your favorite restaurant. Consequently solving  the problem of a lack of time or desire to cook, filling your stomach nevertheless. Although this may be the ideal solution for some. Today I’m going to try to change your mindset and lead you to your kitchen counter with a big smile on your face.  

By the way, I’m not the only one who has experienced the calming effect of cooking. According to Harry Ritter, the founder and CEO of Alma, a co-working space for therapists, there are several benefits to therapeutic cooking. I combined his findings with my personal experience and will summarize the most important ones for you.

Concentration

First of all, you have to focus your full concentration on the task at hand. Which ensures that you exclude all other stressors. So forget about that deadline that is getting too close, or that awkward moment with your ex who you recently ran into. Cooking is the ideal way to isolate yourself from the outside world and come closer to yourself. 

Escape

As a second but oh so important point, cooking allows you to get back in touch with the real world instead of wandering around in the digital one all day. In the kitchen, you work with your hands and create something tangible, something you can be proud of, which only boosts your mental state even more. So forget about that new Instagram post or the TIKTOK you had yet to look at, and completely indulge in the moment.

End goal

Unlike with classical meditation, with cooking you are literally creating something tangible, which offers a huge contrast. Don’t get me wrong, classical meditation has its advantages, but it’s not for everyone. For some people, the motivation is greater if they have a physical end goal to gain from it. 

So the next time you come back after a hard day at work or school, take some time out to cook a deliciously simple meal, put on a quiet tune, and wind down. And above all else, enjoy your meal!