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Bake Something Delish

Diving into a recipe may improve your mood

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 20, 2023

Updated April 20, 2023

A person taking cookies out of the oven

GMVozd/Getty Images

Quick Win

Spend an afternoon whipping up a yummy treat and a happier mindset.

Try This Today

Find a new recipe for a baked good that you want to create, like muffins or banana bread, and give it a whirl.
Invite some friends or neighbors to come by and sample your latest culinary creation.
Swap recipes with friends. Find other baking fans and ask them for their favorite recipes. Give them yours.

Why

Baking can be a fun hobby to pick up and a great way to unwind when you have some free time. A review of 11 studies reported in 2017 in Health Education & Behavior suggests that cooking may improve mood. Among more than 8,700 adults age 50 and older, taking up a hobby was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms, according to a 2020 report in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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