One of the best ways to stay mentally and physically healthy is to spend time in the garden. It will not only refresh your soul, but it will also boost your confidence and even your immune system.
If you are unsure what mental health benefits you will get by spending time in the garden, then you are at the right place.
Here are the most important mental health benefits of gardening.
Reduces Stress
Gardening can reduce stress, a major mental health benefit. Planting a garden is a great way to get outside and away from the screens that dominate our modern lives. Study participants’ moods differed drastically when working on a computer versus planting a garden.
Planting flowers and veggies were measured to be significantly less stressful than computer time in multiple studies. Gardening’s stress-relieving effects may be linked to lower blood pressure, lower rates of heart disease, and increased immune function.
Stabilizing And Enhancing Connections
Gardening helps us feel grounded by connecting us to our roots (pun intended!). Gardening can strengthen a person’s connection to nature- this is a big deal because many people don’t know where their food really comes from and don’t know much about gardening.
Gardening can build relationships and introduce you to like-minded people. Find like-minded people at your local urban garden or farmer’s market. It’s a great way to share growing tips, recipes, and more.
Even if you’re just growing something simple like herbs, it can really help spruce up your cooking and the many dishes you make for dinner. It can be a great starting point before venturing into other crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, and other veggies.
Presence
Mindfulness reduces stress. Gardening is a mindfulness practice and a great way to be present. You can also enjoy nature and being outdoors. Many gardening tasks, such as digging, pruning, and weeding, force us to focus on the task at hand, which helps us stay in the present and temporarily put our worries aside.
A sense of purpose
Gardening for mental health can also boost self-esteem. This happens when you directly participate in something and see the results. Selecting and caring for your favorite plants, herbs, and flowers gives you a sense of accomplishment. Helping plants grow boosts dopamine and serotonin because it makes us feel like nurturers.
Reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
Gardening improves memory and brain function.
It may even lower Alzheimer’s and dementia risk. Australia conducted a 15-year study of nearly 3,000 older adults, tracking all types of dementia and lifestyle factors. The researchers found that daily gardening cut dementia risk by 36%!
Maintain shape
Gardening is indeed physical therapy. Weeding, digging, and carrying pots and bags are all good workouts. SAGA magazine says 30 minutes of these fat-burning gardening activities can help burn many calories:
250 calories – digging
195 calories – mowing the lawn
105 calories – weeding
Also great for general movement and flexibility in various positions. Regular exercise also improves sleep, which is vital to good health.
It makes your Immune System Stronger.
Gardening outdoors exposes you to Vitamin D and natural light, which boosts your immune system. This increases resistance to chronic disease. Dirt under your fingernails also boosts immunity! Mycobacterium vaccae, a “friendly” soil bacteria found in garden soil, reduces symptoms of allergies, asthma, and psoriasis, which can result from a weakened immune system.
Growing during the winter months
Many gardeners stop growing during the winter months as the seasons change and snow and rain start showing up. A greenhouse can be a great solution for growing all year-round. There are many types of greenhouses ranging from small starters to much bigger options. Greenhouse kits are a great option to get started as everything gets delivered to you, and you just put it together. This is a great way to go for the winter months rather than being cooped up in your house.
Conclusion
If you are a person who loves to enjoy nature and the outdoors, then gardening is a great way to go. Start now to get a stronger immune system, slow down your aging, and get back into shape!
