It is no secret that once the school year starts, stress levels rise exponentially. Homework, exams, and extracurriculars can sometimes make students feel overtaken by stress and anxiety. Although there are many helpful tips to reduce stress and anxiety, and obtain better time management, sometimes it takes more than a breath in and out to make students feel calm. Especially with the pandemic, common stress relievers such as going out to get coffee or hanging out with friends is much less feasible. The best way for students to destress is to separate themselves from the work they may have to do and submerge themselves in another activity.

When the pandemic first started to take a toll on my academics and my mental health, I didn’t think I would ever be able to have a moment to myself, A moment when I could calm down and care for myself. Even when I watched movies or TV shows it was always accompanied by studying for an exam or completing math homework. My anxiety was consuming me, and I didn’t know how to cope with it.

Once I started to bake and found recipes that I knew I would enjoy, I immersed myself in the measuring of ingredients and the preparation of batter or dough. For an hour, I would have nothing on my mind other than how to make these scones the best scones I had ever tasted.

I am not the only student that relieves baking from stress. When asked how baking has helped her relieve stress, Maria L. (‘23), responded, “Baking has really been a distraction. It gives me something to focus aside from academics, which reminds me that there are other priorities in my life.” Baking doesn’t need to be a time consuming and intricate process; it can be as simple as crafting cookie dough and putting it in the oven. No matter what you bake or how long it may take you, making sweet treats is surely a way to get your mind off of the constant stress school or extracurricular activities may give you, and give you an opportunity to distract yourself in a fun but calm way.