From isolation loaves to quarantine cookies, stressed-out Americans are managing the pandemic blues in a very wholesome way: by baking. As the outbreak weighs on people’s mental health, they’re looking for comforting, mindful activities to shift their thoughts from the global health crisis. We explore the insights behind the rise of stress-baking in times of public health crisis.
When NPR news anchor Mary Louise Kelly tweeted to ask whether anyone else was ‘aggressively baking banana bread at 9:40pm’, her question was met with a flurry of responses from people who were similarly stress-baking to stave off pandemic-related anxiety. Since then, people across Twitter have used the #coronavirusbaking hashtag to show off their pandemic-inspired culinary creations. Whether it’s experimenting with sourdough starters or nailing the perfect banana bread, many people are finding comfort in the reliable science of baking, which serves as a tonic to the lack of control that many experience in light of the pandemic.
“In politics, if something goes wrong, there are a million possible explanations. But baking is a science, It’s all about chemical reactions," says Lily Adams, a fellow at the Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown University. "So, if something doesn’t turn out like you’d hoped, there’s usually a very quick explanation. It’s nice certainty in a life or a career path that doesn’t have that.”
As the COVID-19 outbreak leaves the world in a state of anxiety and uncertainty, it’s no wonder that people are looking for simple activities to distract themselves from constantly negative news cycles. Indeed, research from Axios found that over one-quarter of Americans (29%) have experienced a decline in their emotional wellbeing in response to the outbreak. Baking is not the only hobby giving people a sense of solace. Non-competitive video games are also providing light relief. Animal Crossing, for example, is surging in popularity among stressed-out Britons, letting them relax and unwind by focusing on simple tasks such as picking fruit and running errands.
Lottie Hanwell is a junior behavioural analyst. She loves travelling, reading novels, cuddling dogs, and hosting dinner parties. A graduate of English Literature and Spanish, she’s adventured through Latin America where she developed a taste for Argentine Malbec and dodgy Reggaeton. Now settled back in London, she hopes to translate her fondness of people-watching to her role at Canvas8.
