We have talked about it often, but the truth is that this has been a rough year. The year though has come with some benefits as well as the frustrations! Here is just a little list of the benefits that I have found myself appreciating this year:

• The ability to persevere through hard times
• Learning how to appreciate and be thankful for what we have
• Appreciating our time with our families
• Being thankful for our health
• Slowing down
• Learning or relearning homemaking skills

This year has really tested our limits in multiple ways, but I think that it has proven to be great too! It has given us a wonderful opportunity to re-introduce ourselves to the simple joys in life. That’s why I have decided to put focus on those simple joys when it comes to setting New Year’s resolutions. 

I think most of us should focus on or set resolutions to remember to enjoy the simple joys of family time, game playing, creating, and I am also going to tell you why you should add bread baking to your New Year’s resolutions this year.

Why You Should Add Bread Baking to Your New Year’s Resolutions

Instead of spending time focusing on feeling stressed or worried, why not focus on learning new things and teaching yourself a new hobby? Learning a new hobby that can not only ease your stress, but also one that teaches you valuable life skills is a great way to ring in the new year, don’t you think?

How Bread Baking can Help Improve your Life

Just a few short months ago we went through a stress-filled election and we chatted a little bit about the ways in which bread baking can benefit us. 

Let’s talk a little bit more about this, because this is part of the reason why it’s such a great idea to add bread baking to your New Year’s resolution. Let’s talk about how bread baking can help improve your life, shall we?

We all know that saving money, exercising more and even journaling are popular New Year’s resolutions because of the benefits that they can provide for you and how each of those things can improve your life, but guess what?! Bread baking can do the same!

Bread Baking is Calming

Some people like to paint to ease their anxiety, some people like to meditate, while others really enjoy working a batch of bread dough into a delicious loaf of homemade bread to ease their stress and anxiety. I don’t know about you, but I can always use new tips for lowering stress, especially after the year we have had!

Creative Expression

There have been multiple studies done over the last several years which have proven that there is a correlation between mental well being and creative expression. The more you are able to express yourself creatively, the healthier your mental health is. The art acts as an outlet for feelings, stress, expressions and more. Some people use paint, some people use creative writing and some people use baking as their form of creative expression.

Mental Focus

Sometimes needing to focus on a task is actually helpful in improving your mental focus outside of said project. Bread baking is one such task that is great for working on your mental focus.

Additionally, the need to focus on a task like this is helpful in removing your stressful thoughts and replacing them with the focus of the task.

Creating for and Giving to Others

We all know that giving to others makes us all feel good, and to know that you are creating something for others and then giving them the gift of homemade bread is a wonderful way to make yourself feel wonderful.

Superstone® Bakeware

If you are ready to add bread baking to your New Year’s resolutions, be sure that you have all of the best tools on hand to make baking the best bread even better! Here are some of my favorites:

superstone® la cloche - I have used quite a few pieces of bakeware in the past to make homemade bread, but the superstone la cloche is the bakeware that helped make the best loaves yet!

superstone® covered baker is best for longer loaves with enough slices for sandwiches or for a charcuterie platter.

Silicone Kitchen Tools

And while you're looking around, check out our clearance section for much-needed items like silicone whisks, measuring cups, paper mini loaf pans and more!

I hope you all have the best year yet and I am excited about everyone’s new baking adventures!