Mind Food | 3 Ways Cooking Improves Mindfulness
I’ve been designing a cooking program for people with mental illness and the process has been super uplifting!
Working in commercial kitchens for over 2 decades it’s easy to get caught up in the micro time pressures, multitasking, customer expectations and sheer hours on the tools that the trade commands.
Creating such a program has forced me to slow down and focus on the craft of cooking itself, and the parts I have perhaps discounted over the years that have enabled me to continue in such a demanding yet rewarding industry.
As a recent report from Forbes Health states, being mindful is the number 1 way to avoid burnout personally and professionally.
In fact…this year Google searches for ‘burnout’ reached an all-time high.
The associated costs not only to the individual, but to an organisation for burnout and fatigue are immense.
The proactive approach is to rediscover moments of appreciation in daily tasks.
Here are 3 ways that cooking improves mindfulness:
1. Mise en place
Chefs have been doing this for centuries. Having ‘everything in place’ prior to commencing cooking is the way to guarantee success. Maria Kondo took it to the next level, linking the act of organisation to Sparking Joy. Where else can this process support your daily activities?
2. Savouring
Slow down and really think about the next meal you consume. Appreciate the acidity or sweetness, the textures, the aroma and the flavour. What memories does it spark?
3. The process itself
Start. Middle. End. Appreciate that each time you prepare a meal you have completed a task and satisfied a need. If only to nourish your body for a few hours, it’s still a tick.
How mindful are you in the kitchen?
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