if there’s one bit of cringy self-care advice i’m going to post in public scope, it’s this.

if you’re reluctant to really get into cooking proper meals for yourself, please just do it. it can be life-changing ESPECIALLY if you’re afraid of failure or you think you’re gonna suck at it or you don’t know why anyone would want to put up with you. trust me, no matter how clumsy and worthless you think you are, you WILL succeed and you WILL get better.

few things shut up a toxic inner critic like treating yourself to a tasty meal out of your own kitchen, and imagine the feeling of accomplishment and self-empowerment you get after finally proving that bastard wrong—even if reaching that milestone of personal growth may have taken you some trial and error. not to mention cooking for and with others. it’s the best.

there are almost no rules. the possibilities are endless. it takes so little experience to start changing up recipes and trying things you’ve never heard of but which seem crazy enough they might just work. you’re gonna be loading the oven with crêpes, of all things, stuffed with spinach and ricotta in a tomato-cheese-sauce, and all the doubters who have never cooked with any passion will look at that like 🤔, but you’ll already know it’s still the best thing they’re gonna have all week.

“but it’s such a drag when i’m already tired from work…”
try to do it anyway, it’s often a better way to relax and take your mind off of things than rotting in front of a screen until you’re too exhausted to keep your eyes open. it’s also one of the very few things i managed to turn into a habit in spite of unmedicated ADD, simply because of how rewarding it is.

@mia@movsw.0x0.st “but it’s such a drag when i’m already tired from work…”

Value of meal prepping on the weekends cannot be understated

@mia@movsw.0x0.st you know, your mental health views/observations/musings are what made me follow you.

@Rocc i’m mostly just dumping my own experiences into the void but i’m glad if it’s been interesting and/or helpful

@mia this is extremely good advice and I wish I could boost it multiple times

@skadi @mia I might need to get into that soon enough as well. I do generally like cooking but stuff like cutting things takes quite some time (I am not that fast with cutting stuff)

I do enjoy cooking on weekends. I have time to do stuff there. Just sit down relax and make a nice meal. But I absolutely hate cooking when I am stressed due to time constraints. As soon as I move I will need to think about meal prep. So if you have any guidance to it let me know

@mia Cooking is such a valuable skill to have. There is many pretty simple dishes with not that many ingridients.

One of my favorites includes buckwheat with some meat, carrot and onion. Such a lovely taste and one of my confort foods.

Other easy stuff includes pasta in so many varieties lol. Pasta sauce can be so different depending on the veggies you put in.

Soup is also very easily done. Most is just cutting things and some water / spices. Good for cold days.

Cooking for other people is fun as well. I tend to also some a bit more complicated stuff on weekends. I did ramen once or twice. Set up broth from scratch and all that. But sharing the cooking and see others enjoy is

TL;DR Pick up that cooking skill

@stefan sharing your cooking with others, seeing it cheer up a partner or friend who hasn’t been doing well, making something together and screwing up, then trying to save it…

there are so many precious memories i wouldn’t have without it