Use Cooking As a Stress Reliever (and Stop Eating Too Much Outside the Home)
When you’re busy or stressed, your first desire is to order dinner or put something in the microwave. If you try to cook more often, you will have less stress and great homemade food.
In the Wall Street Journal, they report on a new trend in the use of cooking lessons to treat mental health problems. But you don’t have to be upset to benefit: instead of seeing cooking as a chore, use it as a way to unwind at the end of the day. They explain:
Courses often focus in part on teaching healthy cooking and nutrition skills for people with tough and chaotic lives. The counselors say the exercise also relieves stress, boosts self-esteem, and curbs negative thinking by focusing on following the recipe. Often, courses are part of a larger treatment plan, which may also include talking or taking medication.
When you cook at home, you regain control of your life. You will save money and spend time with your family . Turn on do not disturb mode on your phone to keep your attention from being distracted by emails and callers. Listen to music or just enjoy the silence. Pay attention to food and be proud of your creations. If you plan ahead for your meals, you can probably save time to prepare at least a few meals a week (stress-free).
The Path to Mental Health Through the Kitchen | Wall street journal