The Mood Benefits Of Baking: Confidence, Connection & More

If you see me baking a pie at 7 a.m., you can guarantee I'm doing it for my mental health. This probably sounds really strange at first, but it's my truth: There are few things that pull me out of a dark headspace more than spending solo time baking. 

I discovered the power of this hobby when I was struggling with depression and had next to no motivation to do anything positive with my day. One morning, in the midst of this difficult time, I woke up to bake a pie for a Friendsgiving celebration (a commitment I thought I'd regret when I first woke up). I decided to start early just to have the kitchen to myself, so there I was baking a pie while the sun was still rising. 

During the baking process and after sharing my project with my friends, I felt fulfillment, accomplishment, and joy wash over me—feelings that had been far and few between in my life then. Time and time again, I elected for early morning baking to test the cause and effect to find that it really is a habit that never fails to boost my mood.

Research shows that cooking (baking included) can benefit your mental health1 when looking at it through a prominent well-being model created by psychologist, author, and director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania Martin Seligman, Ph.D.

The model is called PERMA2, which stands for Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA). 

Positive emotions extend far beyond happiness—the long list includes feelings like optimism, contentment, inspiration, and pride—all of which can arise during the baking process. 

This was the benefit I was most surprised by—baking actually does distract me from any negative thought loop I'm stuck in. This falls into the second category of the PERMA model, engagement, which Seligman defines as being one with an activity, experiencing a sense of time stopping, and the loss of self-consciousness during an activity. 

Whether you share your baked good with those in your household or invite someone over to enjoy it with you, the act of baking can inspire a moment of connection. 

Humans have been preparing and enjoying meals together for centuries, so it's no surprise that researchers theorize some of the pleasure derived from cooking stems from positive associations with social occasions3 and time spent with others. 

This isn't to say you have to share your baked goods, but it is an excuse to invite over an old friend, bring your household together in one room, and it may even deliver outside praise of your dish that can increase your sense of pride in your project. 

Research shows that cooking brings more meaning to one's life4 when there is no sense of time constraint when meals are cooked with others, when food is made for others, and when more time is spent on preparing the dish—all of which make baking a great option for a meaningful act of food creation compared to something super quick and easy to whip up. 

Even teenagers can benefit from this hobby. Surveys have shown that teens describe cooking as an opportunity to gain responsibility and independence.

It's undeniable that baking a delicious, beautiful treat can make you feel accomplished. Especially if you're new to baking, testing out a unique recipe, or opting for a different method, you'll be challenged just enough to trigger accomplishment in your craft. 

I love to bake in the morning for many reasons, but I have to say that getting this sense of accomplishment in the first half of my day sets me up for a better afternoon—almost like I already did something hard, so making the move to go exercise, get ready for the day, or show up for plans with friends seems a whole lot easier. 

While baking has been my secret weapon for lifting me out of a low mood, it never has nor will it ever replace the basic pillars of mental health support including therapy, social connection, healthy eating, and regular exercise.