The YAY 4: Procrasti-Baking, Meditation & More

Your mid-week dose of cheer and distraction.

Happy Wednesday! 

If you’re new here, every other week, I share a handful of good things, linked distractions and tiny victories making me smile. A little departure from Friday’s longer, more introspective rambles. 

Here are four things brightening my week:

1.) Procrasti-Baking. 

This is now a thing. I know because the New York Times told me so, and because it’s one of my main hobbies….I just didn’t realize what it was called til now. (Seriously — the Times has a whole section dedicated in their “Cooking” vertical.) 

In case it wasn’t clear, procrati-baking is using baking — ideally of something completely unnecessary and fun — as a procrastination method. You can find a far more eloquent explanation here, but trust me when I tell you it’s very effective! Also, valuable as a distraction tool — so, two in one. 

Case in point, last Thursday I made this rich, chocolate layer cake for just about no reason. Well, okay — it was supposed to be for Valentine’s Day, but I was a little tardy meeting the holiday, and I also dragged out the baking process so it took entirely longer to whip up than necessary. All that being said, if you’re looking for a new birthday/random occasion cake recipe, this one is/was delicious, right down to the chocolate-peanut butter frosting. (Note: I left out the Ovaltine and heavy cream in the frosting, and it was still perfect.)

Let me know what you’re making if you too are a procrasti-baker. 

2.) Art Kits! 

For someone not even a little bit crafty, announcing that felt exclamation point-worthy. 

I have been feeling extra antsy lately, and starting to think I need a new hobby or just……. something else to do with my time beyond what’s been keeping me occupied for the last year (!) of pandemic life. Despite the fact that I have zero evidence from my 30-something years to make me believe I might secretly be a gifted artist, attempting painting sounded like as good an idea as any…. so, I ordered a beginner watercolor paint kit. (If anyone else read The Babysitters Club books growing up, buying this made me think of the babysitters’ “kid kits,” aka the boxes of crafts they used in the books to entertain the kiddos they took care of… but I digress.) 

Anyways, turns out there’s a number of shops on Etsy selling various art and craft kits that make it easy to try a new, creative hobby without jumping all the way in. Doesn’t hurt to try something new, right? And if you’re really interested in pursuing some artistic dreams, there’s also a studio called Makers Mess that, pre-pandemic, had truly delightful in-person creative classes here in LA (I took calligraphy with a friend…. I was terrible, but it was really fun). In 2020, they pivoted, and now offer crafting kits and virtual classes. (I bought one of their pom-pom wreath-making kits back around the holidays, and it turned out adorable, despite my lack of actual skill.💁) 

3.) Meditating. 

If you read my Friday Things post last week, then you know I’ve been at peak anxiety lately.😅 Despite doing yoga for many years, I’ve never gotten into meditating as a regular habit, but, once upon a time when I was anxious a lot (I mean, a LOT) due to a work situation, I briefly dipped my toes into a meditation routine. And so, the memory of it came back to me last week, and I decided to give meditation another shot. I did a very short guided meditation — 10 minutes — that was focused on peace, and to be honest, it made a noticeable difference in how I was feeling. (I did Aditi’s class from 2/14/2021, through the Peloton app.) 

I still don’t anticipate it becoming a consistent habit for me — and maybe you don’t either, for yourself —but it’s a great tool to have in your back pocket for when you just need someone to remind you to breath and be still and know there’s solid ground below you that can and will gladly hold you up. 

Other great options for meditation or breathing activities are Calm and Headspace; I’ve tried them both!  

4.) Sunshine Walks.

Self-explanatory, but there’s just something so calming about walking outdoors and soaking up the sun. My husband and I have been venturing into new neighborhoods and parks to walk our dog the last few weeks on days when it’s been warmer, and I always return home feeling like my tank got a refill. ☀️

Now before all my east coast friends @ me, I know this is far easier said and done out here in Southern California, but I grew up in NYC and lived on the eastern seaboard for many years, so I feel your pain. But if you can steal even just a few minutes to stand outside directly in the sun, or go for a brisk walk or even a run, I bet it will brighten your whole darn day. 

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And that’s it for today! Thank you for reading, and let me know in the comments what your small joys are lately. 💛

See you Friday,

Joelle

*Disclaimer: All links and recommendations shared here are based on personal experience and interest, and do not represent any affiliations, sponsors, or professional connections unless otherwise stated.