Dealing with coronavirus-related anxiety? Try stress baking.

Not that you're not already aware, but the coronavirus outbreak is delivering a one-two punch of health and financial fears across the globe. In fact, our collective COVID-19-related anxiety levels have gotten so high that earlier this month, the World Health Organization issued guidelines for mental health management amid the spread of the virus (now officially a pandemic).

In this time of crisis, it's safe to say we all deserve to have baked goods.

In her deep dive into the phenomenon for Eater, Jenny G. Zhang writes that "stress baking" can be an effective means of relief and distraction for those of us coping with coronavirus, especially if you're social distancing/stuck at home right now. Following a recipe line by line provides a sense of control and structure, she points out, and the end result is something comforting and decadent — a "salve for [one's] anxiety" in these dire times. (Better yet, it's physically impossible to panic-scroll through your Twitter feed when you're elbow-deep in cake batter.) Read more...