Finding Tranquility in the Kitchen

Using the Mundane to Find the Flow

In our fast-paced and chaotic world, finding peace of mind can be a challenge and sometimes downright impossible, but occasionally the most unexpected places hold the key to inner calm. The kitchen, a space traditionally associated with cooking, can become a haven for finding inner peace and entering a state of flow.

Today I am going to examine how embracing the mundane tasks of the kitchen can help us to discover tranquility and tap into the revitalizing power of the present moment.

Walking into a quiet kitchen in the morning can be a very calming experience. This time of solitude can be seen as a glorious time to be able to go over your thoughts without any distractions or to redefine your goals and get a bit of extra work done that you never have the time to do.

Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

I have always tried to use this time to clear my head and get into a semi-meditative state, the key word here is try, sometimes I fail and sometimes I don’t. As I work through the ritualistic routine of grabbing my pans to set up the line, I can sometimes get myself into a kind of hypnotic state where I am very productive and efficient, yet completely checked out at the same time.

For years now all we have heard from managerial experts and employment coaches is that we must perfect the art of multitasking but for me alone in the kitchen, I tend to focus on one singular task at a time until it’s done and then move on in a robotic fashion. This mindset of smooth meditative productivity can be referred to as being in the “zone” or in a flow state. If monotasking can help you get into the flow state, then multitasking can probably push you into a completely frantic state of mind.

Photo by Jagjit Singh on Unsplash

After all, who hasn’t worked with someone who looks like they are going to lose their mind at any minute, I know that I have been that guy from time to time, but what chef hasn’t been. After all, we are usually working at full capacity.

If you have ever really gotten into a workout, a good conversation, or a really good book, you know that time seems to go very fast. If this sounds familiar, you were probably in the flow state. In many ways, the flow state is very similar to a meditative state with the chatter of the mind fading away you have time to be present in the moment.

This flow state refers to a mental state in which a person is fully immersed and intensely focused on an activity. Coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow is characterized by complete absorption and enjoyment in the present moment, where individuals experience a sense of timelessness and a loss of self-consciousness.

Photo by Jason Jarrach on Unsplash

Finding this Zen state at work can make the day get on with itself pretty quickly, but this same type of meditative practice can be employed at home as well. Repetitive tasks like washing dishes or moping the floor can be great ways to quiet the mind and find the flow. These types of activities are neither too difficult nor too easy therefore striking a balance that can allow you to enter a state of deep concentration.

At home when we are cooking a meal either for ourselves or our family we tend to rush through the process of cooking, then rush to eat. That’s a lot of rushing around. By slowing down and paying attention to each step we may be able to find a state of tranquility. This may sound strange but by focusing on the ingredients that you are preparing as well as the process, you can enter a state where your mind is focused on the here and now by fully immersing yourself in the art of cooking.

The kitchen can be a great sensory experience as well, by taking a moment to appreciate the ingredients that you are working with this allows us to root ourselves in the present and can create a sense of connection with the world around you. This break from the constant stream of information and demands can significantly reduce stress levels and help to promote a sense of calm and inner peace.

Photo by Jason Jarrach on Unsplash

The world constantly demands our attention, finding peace within can seem like and often is an elusive goal. However, the kitchen can offer a fortress of solitude where mundane tasks can be transformed into moments of calm.

Both the professional and the home kitchen can be very busy and overwhelming places at times, but they can also teach us to slow down, stop rushing around, and appreciate the simplicity of the tasks at hand so the next time you find yourself in the kitchen, embrace the mundane. Take each task one by one and unlock the tranquility that lies within.