Relax After Service: A Chef’s Evening
Designed by Bearmore
Inspired by The Burnt Chef ProjectStill feeling like you’re working even after the doors shut?
Come back to yourself after a shift that left you wired, numb, or wrung out. A Burst, drawing from The Burnt Chef Project's own resources: a break, journal for a few minutes, a breathing practice, a slow mindful meal, and a caring check-in for one of your colleagues.
The runsheet
- Break
Step outside
5 minThe Going Home Checklist closes with a direct instruction: 'switch your attention to home: rest and recharge'. Step outside, phone away, and let the shift stay on the other side of the door.
Bearmore’s thoughts on doing break before journaling
This is a strong combination because a break can give your thoughts time to settle, so what you write may feel clearer and more honest.
Journal after the shift
JournalingThe Burnt Chef Project frames a shift-end thought diary as a way to start processing the emotions you felt during the shift. Write what was hard, what went well, and one line on how you feel right now. Three things that went well is the closer.
15 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing journaling before breath work
This works well because structured breathing can help ease any tension the writing surfaced.
Breathing: in for four, out for six
Breath workThe Wellbeing Workbook specifies this one breathing reset: in for four counts, out for six, repeated. The longer exhale cues you to slow down. Repeat until it bores you into feeling calm!
10 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing breath work before eating (mindful)
There's a useful connection here because a calm, regulated state can help you eat more slowly and notice satiety.
Sit down to eat
Eating (mindful)The Wellbeing Workbook is direct: slow things down and eat properly. In a post-shift context, sitting down to eat without a screen is itself the practice. Phone away, no multitasking, just the food.
15 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing eating (mindful) before acts of kindness
This can help because any nourished, content feeling from mindful eating can make you feel more open to helping others.
Kindness for a teammate
Acts of kindnessThe Going Home Checklist is specific: 'check on a colleague before you leave: are they OK?'. A short check-in, a text or a call, does two things: it helps them and could put you into a different state at the same time.
10 min activityTime well spent.
1h 11m spent doing something good for yourself.
The breakdown
Burst evaluation
Wellbeing focus
About this Burst
The Burnt Chef Project is a non-profit mental-health social enterprise founded in May 2019 by Kris Hall to attempt to eradicate mental-health stigma in hospitality. UK-founded (Castle Cary, Somerset), now global with an ambassador network reaching 184 countries. Provides free support, peer programmes, training, and downloadable resources for hospitality and leisure industry workers. theburntchefproject.com