Feel like punching a wall this week? Try baking instead

In law school I used to bake different types of bread throughout the week when I was studying. I didn’t have a bread maker or mixer and all was done by hand. During those days I mostly made old fashioned bread roles with Swedish spice mixes. A glutenous predecessor of Hävenly’s Oat Buns. The baking created a perfect break from my studies, peace for my soul and happy tummies. This is what it looked like:

  • Mix the ingredients and let it rise. Study..

  • Knead the dough, and form the buns. Study during the second rise..

  • Bake the buns and study some more…

  • Well deserved break with newly baked buns, a little bit of butter and maybe some cheese or avocado.

To work with my hands was almost meditative and the aroma of newly baked bread would spread in my small apartment in downtown Gothenburg, Sweden. The entire process brought a calm to my soul, and the bread itself was highly appreciated by my fellow students.

I came across this article and it brought back all these memories:
https://thetakeout.com/baking-meditation-relaxing-mental-health-1838747876

“multiple studies that make a strong case for baking therapy, or any “maker activity” that involves some sort of repetitive, tactile component, such as sewing, gardening, metal working, building teeny tiny ships in itty bitty bottles, and cooking”

As highlighted in the article there are “multiple studies that make a strong case for baking therapy, or any “maker activity” that involves some sort of repetitive, tactile component, such as sewing, gardening, metal working, building teeny tiny ships in itty bitty bottles, and cooking”. I hope you’ll enjoy the article!


Katarina Schare