Why DIY Cookie and House Kits Could be the Answer to Lockdown Blues

Why DIY Cookie and House Kits Could be the Answer to Lockdown Blues

One again we have found ourselves safely sequestered in our home safe from another outbreak and
looking for some sort of silver lining that can allow us to make the best of all this time we have on our
hands.
But what if you were able to place all that time and talent at your disposal to learning the fine art of
creating a gingerbread house, or making cookie pops! These are the perfect kitchen activities for anyone
with little or no experience, and it’s a great way to make the most of a long and tedious lockdown.
Research has shown that getting creative in the kitchen has many benefits beyond being a merely fun
activity. As Melbourne therapist Sandra Ryan explains, “There are the benefits of stress reduction, social
connection and even emotional management that can be found simply by taking more time in the kitchen
participating in this time-honored activity”.
Cooking, baking and decorating is a form of self-care of the truest kind and one that we have been
desperately needing in this time of isolation.

Satiating the creative craving

We all have those delightful memories of kitchen time and fun challenges. A few hours just moving about
in the kitchen gathering, mixing and preparing ingredients for a special recipe we feel is within our grasp.
Even something as simple as decorating cookies can be a major mood lifter.
Though the research is a bit scant on why the power of kitchen work is so beneficial to the mood, we do
understand plenty on why expressing oneself creatively can be a gratifying experience. Research has
shown that the accomplishment we feel from achieving small creative tasks is essential to maintaining
that feeling of happiness and well-being. In one such study, adults reported positive emotions after
taking on creative pursuits, like writing, making music, or doing other creative activities.
Jeanine Sciacca is an expert on the connection between good food and good feelings and mental health.
She says, “doing things that evoke positive emotions can help to calm and relax neural pathways.” She
further explains, “Cooking is one of the most basic of human behaviours, it nourishes others and as a
result creates the opportunity for boosted positive emotions.”

Getting your hands dirty

There is also plenty of evidence that suggests that it is not only the creativity associated with baking that
provides so many benefits. It is the mechanics of baking that can have a significantly appealing process
and activate the critical centers of the brain.
It is the working memory that allows us to complete the stages of a task without losing track of what we
are doing. If you are cooking you will remember that you already set out all the ingredients, carefully
measured three teaspoons of baking soda and will not have to repeat any of these tasks. This is
excellent for emotional regulation.
Along with stimulating the creativity and kicking in those good vibes, baking as a simple task in itself can
provide an important feeling of social connection, something that is in greater need since the pandemic
took place. Over 10 years of study shows that cooking engenders a feeling of social interaction and a
feeling of accomplishment in an important social role. All of this combines to make the individual feel
better.

A dash of control

While the science is still in development, many health care practitioners have begun incorporating baking
and other fun activities in the kitchen into their treatment plans and the results have been impressive to
say the least.
There is a charming repetition and serenity involved with the task of creating a recipe from start to finish
or decorating some delicious treats and applying all of the senses to the task. According to health
specialists from a Sydney-Based Rehab clinic “When the rest of life can seem so out of control, getting
in the kitchen can help the individual gain some bearing and anchor the mind in the present moment.” It
feels good to take a break from your efforts every so often as you wait for your process to be completed.
You know that in 30 minutes the results will be completed, and this all feels tremendously satisfying.
Surveys have shown that cooking as a hobby and personal activity is sure to continue more as the
pandemic lingers and will probably remain an important part of personal projects for long after that. For
those feeling most affected by the effects of the pandemic, a bit of time in the kitchen could be all you
need to feel better and create the food you eat, exactly how you like it
So why wait any longer to get into the kitchen, get creative and beat that lockdown slump. Why not try
out one of our DIY kits and see what wonderful creations you and your family can make!