Experience Mindfulness Through Sourdough Bread Making: A Simple Path to Inner Peace
In our crazy, fast-paced, frenetic world, finding moments of mindfulness can be challenging.
One really simple and rewarding way to experience mindfulness (and one that I never expected to find!) is through sourdough bread making.
I started making sourdough as it sounded so complicated and confusing to me and I really wanted to understand it. Not only that but because breadmaking directly relates to the products that my husband and I are creating for our e-commerce business, I decided that it was time to get to grips with it!
I discovered that not only does sourdough breadmaking produce delicious, wholesome bread which my husband loves but it also offers a meditative and soothing experience that I’d just never contemplated before.
Now when I feel slightly stressed, I whip out my sourdough starter and get to work!
Why Sourdough Bread Making is a Perfect Mindfulness Activity
The Art of Slowing Down
Sourdough bread making is a slow process that requires patience and attention to detail (although sometimes I think my best loaves are the ones I’ve totally neglected!)
From creating your own starter, to the final bake, each time you have to go and attend to it, it makes you pause from the busy-ness of life. This deliberate slowing down encourages you to be present, to focus on the here and now, and to enjoy the process rather than rush to the end result.
Engaging the Senses
I hadn’t appreciated that making sourdough bread is a total sensory experience. The act of watching the starter bubble up, folding and stretching the dough, observing it rise, the smell that fills the house during baking, and the taste of the final product—all make it (I know, wait for it…) a grounding experience that brings you into the present moment. This sensory aspect of it helps to anchor you when life can feel a little like you’re in a washing machine!
The Joy of Creation
Part of me doesn’t want to admit this but there is a real sense of accomplishment and joy in creating a sourdough loaf. I think it’s anthropological. For a moment I’m a farmer’s wife, producing a wholesome meal for my husband and my family. And then I realise that I live in a UK suburb where sourdough is available at every local supermarket. But hey, if it makes you feel good, why not go to that imaginery place in your head?!
The Benefits of Nurturing Dough Throughout the Day
Getting you Away from your Desk.
Nurturing sourdough requires regular attention throughout the day and means that you have to get up from your desk, which is always a good thing. Hours can whizz by when I’m engrossed in my work and hearing the alarm go, reminding me to go and attend to my dough, is music to my ears.
Setting aside specific times for feeding my starter, folding the dough, and monitoring its progress creates a rhythm that brings calm and order to my day. Not only that but it fills me with a certain anticipation of what I might yet still achieve before I go to bed.
Practicing Patience
Sourdough bread making is a test of patience - and perseverance. The dough needs time to ferment, rise, and develop its flavours. This waiting and nurturing period is a perfect opportunity to practice patience. It’s a little like having a baby to care for. And that’s part of why I think I like it so much!
The Personal Reward of Creating Sourdough Bread
A Healthier Choice
Sourdough bread is not only delicious but also offers numerous health benefits. The fermentation process breaks down gluten, making it easier to digest. It also increases the availability of nutrients and adds beneficial probiotics to your diet. Knowing that you are creating a healthy, nutritious product adds to the personal reward of making sourdough bread.
Sharing with Loved Ones
For me, one of the greatest joys of baking sourdough is sharing it with others. The act of giving a loaf of homemade bread to a friend or family member is a gesture of love and care. It spreads happiness and saves others time when they are busy, which is deeply satisfying. Next on my list is my daughter’s boyfriend, who loved the sourdough when he came to stay recently.
Boosting Confidence
Successfully making sourdough bread can really boost your confidence. Each successful loaf you bake is a testament to your effort and skill. Over time, as you refine your technique and see your progress, you gain a sense of mastery and accomplishment. And the disasters are just frankly, amusing!
Join My Sourdough Bread Making Community
Are you ready to embark on your sourdough bread making journey and experience the mindfulness it offers?
If you’re not sure where to start and you need a little guidance, I’ve created a free guide. It includes a detailed (but very, very, simple) recipe, along with a bread making journal designed specifically for beginners.
When I first started making sourdough, I really wanted to optimise everything that had worked, whether that was what flour I used, the oven temperature, how long after feeding my starter I used it, so that I could figure out how to make a great loaf.
However I could never remember from one loaf to the next what had worked. So I made a rough journal on a piece of paper which I’ve turned into something much prettier for you.
My journal will guide you through helping you track your progress and reflect on your experience.
You can also join my little Facebook group, “Sourdough Secrets & Shenanigans” by clicking HERE. It’s a lovely supportive community of fellow newbie bakers who share a passion for sourdough and mindfulness. Together, we can nurture our dough and our souls, one loaf at a time!
Sign Up Here for Your Free “Dough-Ventures” Your Guide To Sourdough Success & Bread Making Journal”
And if you’d like to join the Denham & Derby elite launch team we would LOVE to have you along!
As a member, you will be the first to know about new product releases and get the chance to test them for free. Become part of our community and enjoy exclusive perks while helping us create some fabulous products to enhance your hobbies!
Much love,
Beth