While gardening isn’t for everyone, its positive impact on physical and emotional wellbeing are something we could all use more of today. Gardening is beneficial for both physical and mental health. Your garden is a space where you can clear your mind and reduce stress as you become one with nature. Gardening encourages positive mental stimulation.
Even something as simple as having a plant on your desk can make you feel energized and able to think more clearly. Individuals who suffer from anxiety or depression have found gardening to be incredibly beneficial.
Humans have long known that being engaged in the natural world of growing plants is good for us, but there is also plenty of research to back this up. While gardening can be tough on your body, it’s a mental massage for your mind and emotions.
Promotes exercise
While gardening can be largely enjoyable, it is also a great way to exercise. Many individuals don’t reach the minimum daily guidelines for daily exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to a range of health issues. Gardening is a great way to meet your body’s need for exercise. The guidelines for physical activity in children and adolescents are for 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. Adults should get at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise a day. By exercising, both children and adults benefit and reduce the chances of getting diabetes, anxiety, and depression.
Exercise releases endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body to relieve stress and pain. They are known to help produce positive feelings and reduce the perception of pain. While gardening may sometimes seem like a chore, it has a significantly positive impact on mental and emotional wellbeing.
Reduces time on technology
In today’s day and age, with the constant bombardment of technology, when do we ever put down the phone? Activities such as working in your yard are a great escape from technology. Increasing your time in nature has many benefits. A sense of accomplishment is one of these benefits and something you will experience while working in the garden.
Encourages healthy eating
Gardening encourages healthy eating as individuals who grow their own produce are more likely to be aware of the health benefits of eating organically produced crops. Believe me there is no better feeling than eating food which you have grown. Furthermore, producing small amounts of produce from your garden increases appreciation of locally produced natural foods. Growing your own food in the garden is a very healthy way of living life to its fullest potential. Food grown from our own backyard encourages us to eat it because it’s fresh, and we know that a lot of hard work goes into producing what we have on our plates.
Gardening can also be a contributing factor to enhancing cognitive ability and social skills. When people work in a community garden with one another, they pay more attention to group tasks that can be accomplished together to achieve the best outcome.
Increases mood and decreases stress
Gardening is proven to be significantly beneficial to your psychological health as well as mental and physical wellbeing. Working productively in the garden can increase serotonin levels in the brain, causing you to be happier throughout the day. Gardening can also improve your overall mood. Give it a go, and I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Gardening can bring out your creativity and spark innovative thinking. Gardening also contributes to sustainability. Recycling food scraps into your compost is a great way to start. It is something I do out of instinct now. The creativeness I experience while gardening is how I came up with the sustainable idea of reusing plastic in your garden.
There’s a saying in the garden community: couples that garden together stay together. Research suggests that 63% of people who garden experience improved moods when gardening. What a way to spend the weekend feeling active and happy! Getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels. Contact with soil and a specific soil bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin, a natural antidepressant that strengthens the immune system.
Improves concentration
Are you tired of always losing concentration or know someone that has this problem? Then look no further than your garden. People who garden also have prolonged attention spans. Gardening can have long-lasting impacts on our mood in a positive way. If you are the type of person who has a temper, research suggests that working around your property on a regular basis can reduce the triggers of becoming angry, as the activity leads to fulfillment and a great sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, there is a range of plants that can boost brain power and increase memory and decision making, something you should keep in mind and think about.
Infographic provided by First Tunnels
About the Author: Tristan is a writer from Sydney Gardeners and is passionate about sustainability and the environment. His passion has grown from his experience working in nature. You can view more of his works here.
Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash
The opinions and views expressed in any guest blog post do not necessarily reflect those of www.rtor.org or its sponsor, Laurel House, Inc. The author and www.rtor.org have no affiliations with any products or services mentioned in the article or linked to therein. Guest Authors may have affiliations to products mentioned or linked to in their author bios only.
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I absolutely second your views on gardening and its connection with the mental well being. As a gardener for the past ten years, I realized that being with nature gave me a sense of satisfaction, which no other activities could give. Gardening is blissful and the first path to sustainable living as well.
Loved reading this. Do you help others start similar gardens by any chance?
I realized that being with nature gave me a sense of satisfaction, which no other activities could give. Gardening is blissful and the first path to sustainable living as well.