Gardening offers a way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, while moving your body and engaging with nature. The movements you do when you garden benefit your physical health, but your brain benefits, too. Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can still enjoy the many benefits that come with gardening.
Gardening is a way to build exercise into your daily routine
Gardening is a satisfying way to get exercise without feeling like you're exercising. If you have a garden, try spending time in it every day. If you don't have a garden, maybe it's time to start one.
You might not think of gardening as exercise, but it is. When you garden, dig, weed, or plant, it requires physical exertion. If you do it with intensity, it'll boost your heart rate and get you breathing a little faster. Gardening also helps improve flexibility, coordination, and balance, and builds lower body strength and endurance. Squatting down to pick up a tool from the dirt feels better than squatting in a gym. Plus, gardening provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, making it a rewarding and enjoyable form of exercise.
It'll help you get in touch with nature and other people
Gardening is a great way to get your hands dirty, and it can help you relax and unwind. It's a way to get in touch with the magnificence of nature. Plus, gardening offers opportunities for social interaction, whether making new friends with other gardeners at the local nursery, sharing tips on how to grow specific plants or vegetables, or even just chatting about life while tending the soil together. Most people don't get outdoors enough, and gardening is a way to strengthen the bond with nature and other people.
Gardening can improve your mood and outlook on life
It's no secret that gardening has many physical health benefits, such as improving strength, flexibility, and balance -- but did you know it can also help with mental health? Tending to a garden helps relieve stress or anxiety, without having to go out into public where there are crowds of people around you (which may cause anxiety for some).
Science supports its benefits, too. A University of Essex study found that community gardening can improve the well-being of individuals with mental health problems. Other studies show that gardening reduces stress, promotes feelings of mastery, accomplishment and competence, and builds self-esteem. The researchers also found that it helped people feel more relaxed and optimistic about life.
The therapeutic benefits of gardening include increased energy levels; improved self-esteem; reduced levels of depression and anxiety; better sleep patterns; improved memory function; and even increased creativity. So, gardening is a brain-friendly activity that will help you get into your best mood.
Gardening is a way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D
Being in sunlight is one of the most effective ways to encourage your body to produce more vitamin D, and what better way to get your sunshine than working in a garden? Not only will you get much-needed Vitamin D, but you'll also breathe fresh air.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that regulates the body's calcium and phosphorus levels, promoting bone health and preventing osteoporosis. It also plays a role in supporting immune health.
Despite its importance, many people don't get enough vitamin D, as it's found in few food sources, and you produce it through sun exposure. So, get your daily dose of vitamin D by spending time in your garden. But when you can't do that, try a vitamin D supplement.
It puts healthy food on the table
Gardening is one of the best ways to get healthy, delicious food on the table. Not only does it provide fresh produce all season long, but you also get the satisfaction of growing your own food. Plus, it's a satisfying way to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while spending quality time with your family.
It doesn't matter if you have a sprawling yard or a small balcony; you can find a way to grow something, whether it's a few herbs, a tomato plant, or a small vegetable patch. With the right tools and patience, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor in no time.
Conclusion
Gardening is a powerful tool for promoting physical and mental health. Not only is it a satisfying activity, but it also offers a source of relaxation, sense of purpose, and the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of your labor. Also, gardening can lead to improved nutrition, increased energy, and fresh air. Whether you're a gardening novice or a seasoned veteran, there are plenty of ways to make your outdoor space a source of wellness.
References:
Cultivating wellbeing and mental health through gardening. BPS. Published May 22, 2020. Accessed February 16, 2023. bps.org.uk/psychologist/cultivating-wellbeing-and-mental-health-through-gardening
Wood CJ, Pretty J, Griffin M. A case-control study of the health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening. Journal of Public Health. 2015;38(3):e336-e344. doi:/doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv1
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