4 Tiny Self-Care Habits All Home Chefs Can Practice This Year

There’s no doubt that food is love and that cooking a meal can be one of the most powerful ways to show someone you care, but what about caring for yourself? If you spend a big chunk of your days in the kitchen — prepping, cooking, and cleaning on repeat — you might be edging toward burnout.

This year, resolve to take care of your body. The feet, knees, lower back, and hands that actually get all those meals on the table need love too! Here are four tiny ways to care for yourself — so you can keep caring for your loved ones.

Any chef can tell you that time in the kitchen takes a toll on the body. Your feet, knees, and lower back especially can feel the accumulated pressure of all that time over the stove or countertop. In professional kitchens, they use thick rubber mats to mitigate this, so it makes sense to invest in an anti-fatigue mat for your own kitchen to support your body while you work.

When standing for long periods of time, your hips and back will feel the pressure. Try using a simple step stool to raise one foot while you work, which will help you flex your hip and reduce compression on your nerves. 

Knife cuts are among the most common sources of accidents in home kitchens, and dull knives are often the culprit. Dull knives require more pressure to use and can slip off of the food you’re chopping, creating a dangerous situation for home cooks. Use a whetstone or sharpener to keep your knives razor sharp and safer to use.

Every time I wash a sink full of dishes without gloves, the phrase dishpan hands runs through my head, and I shudder. Your hands are your best kitchen tools, so treat them with care and grab a pair of gloves (bonus points if they make you smile) and some heavy-duty hand cream to keep your mitts in tip-top shape.