How to Love Cooking Again (Even When You’re Burnt Out)

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a busy day, opening your fridge only to shut it again with a sigh? Once upon a time, I’d lose myself in the dance of spices and sizzling pans, but somewhere along the way, between caregiving, health challenges, and overall burnout, I sometimes lost that spark. Cooking would feel like just another task on an ever-growing list of tasks.

For someone who has dedicated her life to teaching others how to elevate and thrive, that loss always feels deeply personal when it occurs. You see, food isn’t just sustenance to me —it’s memory, culture, healing, and celebration. If you’re like me, and at times wonder how to love cooking again, I want you to know this: it’s about remembering who you are and what brings you joy.

In this post, I’m going to share practical, heartfelt strategies that help me fall back in love with cooking—even during the hardest seasons of life. These aren’t your typical “meal prep hacks.” They’re soul-deep shifts that help me find beauty in the everyday, reconnect with tradition, and use cooking as a form of self-care. I’ll even share my #1 strategy to make sure my needs are filled right now, no matter how hectic things get.

Let’s walk this path together.

Table of Contents

Acknowledge the Ebbs and Flows

One of the most freeing things I ever did was stop judging myself for not always being in love with cooking. It’s OK if the thought of chopping another onion makes you sigh. Life is cyclical—and so is passion. The first step to learning how to love cooking again is giving yourself permission to be exactly where you are, without shame.

Even as someone who creates content for a living and finds deep joy in the domestic arts, I still go through seasons of disinterest. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.

Find Beauty in Simplicity

When I was at my lowest—exhausted, overwhelmed, and managing multiple autoimmune flares—I didn’t have the energy for three-course meals or gourmet experimentation. But what I could do was find comfort in simplicity.

That’s when cooking started to feel like self-care again. I turned to meals that were quick but beautiful, like:

• Sautéed vegetables with fresh herbs
• Rice bowls topped with avocado and lime
• A bowl of lentil soup spiced with cumin and coriander

Simple meals remind me that food doesn’t have to be elaborate to be nourishing, delicious, and grounding.

Reignite Passion Through Inspiration

I’m often asked, “Sarina, how do you stay inspired in the kitchen?” The truth is: I don’t always. But when I feel my curiosity wane, I intentionally seek out beauty and inspiration:

• I browse vintage cookbooks (I love collecting Caribbean ones!)
• I watch slow, elegant cooking and lifestyle shows on Netflix
• I revisit my family’s recipes and find new ways to honour them

These acts awaken my senses and help me to remember what excites me. That’s what helps me love cooking again.

Store-Bought vs. Homemade Seasoning: Which One Is Better?

Let’s settle this once and for all: there’s no shame in using store-bought seasoning blends. Sometimes, the best way to reignite your love of cooking is to reduce overwhelm, not add more pressure.

That said, I love the process of making homemade seasoning blends, like green seasoning, from scratch—especially when I want to connect with my Trinidadian roots. So which one is better? It depends.

Use store-bought when you want:

• Convenience
• Speed
• Consistent flavour

Use homemade when you want:

• Customisation
• Fresher, more vibrant flavours
• A deeper connection to culture and process

There’s room for both in a modern, mindful kitchen.

Start Small and Build Confidence

If cooking feels like a mountain, start with a molehill. One of my favourite ways to regain momentum is to revisit my most comforting recipes—the ones I could make in my sleep.

Maybe that’s your mum’s macaroni pie, or a bowl of dhal and rice. The point is to let familiarity build your confidence.

Other ways to ease back in:

• Try a new variation of a dish you already love
• Cook for just 10–15 minutes a day
• Prep one element in advance (e.g. seasoning or chopped veg)

You don’t have to go from zero to gourmet overnight. Tiny wins add up.

Create Time and Space for Yourself

Let me share my #1 strategy to make sure my needs are filled right now: I ritualise my kitchen time.

That means I treat it like a sacred appointment—with candles, music, and absolutely no rushing. Put on a beautiful apron. Put on a pot of tea. Just be.

This is how I create the time and space to be my best self. When I honour my own rhythm, cooking becomes a form of meditation—not a task.

If your kitchen feels chaotic or overwhelming, try decluttering one small area and introducing something sensory—like soft lighting, a playlist, or an aromatic candle. It makes a world of difference.

Engage with the Cooking Community

Sometimes, the fastest way to fall back in love with cooking is to share it with others.

It was during a particularly low point in my life when I began sharing little glimpses of my meals on the Twitch live streaming platform. No pressure, no audience (at first) no filters, just real food. I wanted to create and share without any expectations and the encouragement I received was like balm to my soul.

Whether it’s through:

• An online cooking challenge
• Attending a local market
• Hosting a casual dinner with friends
• Swapping recipes in a WhatsApp group
• Joining my Discord server and sharing your results (shameless plug lol)

Community can breathe life back into your kitchen. Cooking doesn’t have to be a solitary act.

Final Thoughts: This Is Your Invitation

If you’ve been wondering how to love cooking again, this is your gentle nudge: your joy is still there. It’s simply waiting for your attention.

You don’t need to “do it all.” You just need to begin—imperfectly, authentically, lovingly.

There was a time—during the height of burnout, when I was caregiving full-time and running on empty—when the very thought of cooking made me want to cry. I felt like I’d failed. Not just as a homemaker, but as someone who had always seen the kitchen as a sacred space.

But I’ve learned that falling out of love with cooking isn’t the end of the story. It’s simply a sign that something within me needed tending. Not more hustle, not more pressure—just compassion, rest, and reconnection.

Now, every time I dice garlic or wash rice, it feels like an act of coming home to myself. And I want that for you, too.

Start with one tip from this list. Reclaim your kitchen not as a space of stress, but as a sanctuary of expression. And when you do, I promise: you’ll taste the difference.

Ready to Sweeten Your Kitchen Again?

If you’re feeling inspired to bring a little Caribbean magic back into your cooking, I have something special for you.

Download my FREE ebook, “7 Sweet Trini Treats” — a lovingly curated collection of indulgent, simple-to-make Trinidadian desserts that will help you rediscover the joy of creating in your kitchen. Whether you’re new to Caribbean flavours or grew up with them, these recipes are designed to warm your heart and reawaken your taste buds.

Click here to get your copy now and let’s make your next kitchen moment a sweet one.