Why should you bake?

Spending time in the kitchen can ease stress and restlessness, and enhance mindfulness. Not only does the process of cooking and baking improve moods, the feeling of satisfaction gained when seeing the end product naturally enhances happiness. Join the Rise Up family and start your baking journey now!

A common symptom of many mental health issues is difficulty concentrating on a task. Baking forces you to focus.

Paying attention to what you're doing is much easier when there's an obvious reward for your hard work. Applying the mindfulness you use in your baking to everyday situations can make a world of difference.

Remember 2012 Bake Off winner John Whaite? Seven years before his triumph in the tent, he was diagnosed with manic depression and turned to baking to help. One of his most troubling symptoms is a feeling of not being in control, something he says baking can help with.

You see, baking is a very exact science. Each ingredient must be measured out and the recipe followed to the letter in order to get something edible at the end of it. The calm and comfort of this process has helped many people with their mental health problems.

 Psychologists say spending time in the kitchen can help relieve stress and improve your mental health. If you’re looking for ways to pass the time, you may want to grab your whisk and measuring cups and get to baking. When people feel stressed or anxious, they often look for distractions, and baking can be just that.

If you suffer from depression, your self esteem is often very low. Knowing that people have enjoyed those cakes or biscuits you made is a wonderful way to turn this around.

The praise will help to balance out all the self-critical thoughts that bounce around your brain on a daily basis. This can help you feel more able to tackle other challenges in your life.

Having a strong support network is so valuable if you're feeling down. Nobody likes to feel lonely and it can be especially hard to adjust to new environments where you don't know anyone, such as starting a new job or moving to a new neighbourhood.

Baking a batch of cookies or muffins is a great ice-breaker and could be the start of a beautiful friendship. Join the Rise Up family and start your baking journey now!