How Learning to Cook During Lockdown Helped My Mental Health

A personal story on how cooking during lockdown became a surprising form of self-care and stress relief for a teacher overwhelmed with online work. Learn how small acts can boost your mental wellbeing.

The Reality of Working From Home as a Teacher

When the world went into lockdown, many assumed it would be a chance to rest, reflect, and reset. But for teachers like me, reality hit differently.

Working from home meant juggling lesson planning, attending virtual staff meetings, responding to a flood of emails from students and parents, and dealing with tech issues—often all at once. The lines between work and home blurred until it felt like my day never ended.

Some nights, I was still replying to emails at 1:00 a.m., my brain buzzing with pending tasks, deadlines, and virtual class stress.

I felt overwhelmed, anxious, and oddly disconnected from myself.

Turning to Something Unexpected: Cooking as Self-Care

Before the pandemic, cooking wasn’t even on my radar. I was a ready-meal, instant-noodles kind of girl. But in those moments of burnout, I found myself craving not just food, but comfort, control, and quiet. Cooking, strangely enough, offered all three.

It started with a simple dish—Chinese Pakora, a Mumbai street-food favorite—and ended with a life lesson I didn’t expect.

INGREDIENTS 

(available at the supermarket)

• 1 Cabbage / Gobi (Finely Chopped)
• 1 Spring Onion (Finely Chopped)
• 2 Spoon Maida / Refined Flour
• 2 spoons of Corn Flour
• 2 spoons of Besan / Chickpea Flour
• 1/2 spoon Schezwan sauce (optional)
• 1 spoon Chilli Powder
• 1/2 tsp Pepper Powder
• 1 Maggi Cube
• 1/2 spoon Hot and Sweet/ Chilli Sauce (optional)
• Salt to taste
• 2 Green Chillies (Finely Chopped)
• Some Coriander (Finely Chopped)
• Edible Red Colour (Depends on how red you want the pakoras to look)
• 6-7 cloves of Garlic (Finely Chopped)
• Oil
• Water

(Measurements can be altered here and there depending on how much quantity you are preparing or on the spiciness.) 

METHOD 

• Mix the following ingredients in a bowl or a vessel:- Maida, corn flour, besan, cabbage, spring onions, coriander, red color, Schezwan sauce, chili/ hot and sweet sauce, garlic, chilies, Maggi cube, red chili powder, pepper powder, salt. 

• Mix nicely and add water if needed. Make a thick batter. 

• Once the mixture is ready, heat some oil and drop small balls or portions of this mixture into the oil. 

• Deep fry the pakoras until they are all crispy.  

• Once ready, use a tissue to remove the excess oil and serve with Schezwan sauce or any spicy sauce of your choice. You may also enjoy this delicious snack with a hot cup of tea or coffee. 

Cooking Gave Me a Mental Health Reset

Here’s what I discovered:

1. Cooking Slowed Me Down

The act of chopping vegetables, mixing ingredients, and waiting for things to fry made me pause. For once, I wasn’t multitasking. I was present.

Mindfulness isn’t always meditation. Sometimes, it’s just being aware of the sizzle of garlic in a pan.

 

2. It Sparked Creativity

I didn’t follow the recipe perfectly. I added my own flair (and too much chili, oops). But it felt good to create something from scratch.

Creativity is healing, especially when there’s no pressure to be perfect.

 

3. It Helped Me Nourish Myself—Body & Soul

I realized I had been skipping meals, mindlessly snacking, and ignoring what my body needed. Cooking reminded me to care for myself intentionally.

Helpful Takeaways for Anyone Feeling Overwhelmed

If you’re also struggling with burnout or stress, here’s why cooking (or learning something new) might be the wellbeing ritual you didn’t know you needed:

Why Cooking Can Be a Powerful Form of Self-Care

• It’s grounding. Engaging your senses—smell, taste, touch—brings you back to the present.
• It gives a sense of achievement. Even if the dish flops, you tried something new.
• It breaks screen time. You’re away from emails, Zoom calls, and blue light.
• It’s nourishing. Not just physically, but emotionally. You’re giving back to yourself.

Tips for Making Cooking a Mindful Activity (Even for Beginners)

• Start small. Try a 15-minute recipe with simple ingredients.
• Don’t aim for perfection. Messy is magical.
• Cook without distractions. No music, no podcasts—just focus on the process.
• Use it as a journaling prompt. “What did this meal teach me today?”
• Treat it like therapy, not a chore. Let it be fun, silly, and experimental.

My Lockdown Comfort Recipe: A Culinary Memory

Though I no longer post recipes, I’ll never forget my first attempt at Chinese Pakora. It wasn’t just a snack—it was a moment of peace in the middle of a storm.

I didn’t become a master chef. But I became more present. More gentle with myself. More willing to pause.

And that, in the middle of a global crisis, felt like a win.

Let’s Talk: What Helped You During Lockdown?

Whether it was baking banana bread, learning to crochet, or finally reading that dusty book on your shelf, what gave you comfort during lockdown?

Share in the comments—your story might inspire someone else to rediscover a little light in their dark days.

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