Most people know that gardening is good for you, but they might not know why. Gardening is a great way to get some exercise, and it’s also a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. But gardening is also good for your mental health. In fact, studies have shown that gardening can be just as effective as medication in treating mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
1. Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors and get some fresh air
Most medical professionals will recommend spending time outside and breathing in some fresh air to help with mental health issues. And they’re right! Research has shown that spending time outside can help with stress, anxiety, and depression. Gardening can help with this as well. It’s one of the best ways to spend time outdoors without having to go on long hikes or walks.
2. Gardening is an easy way to get exercise
Doing regular exercise not only helps you physically, but it can also help your mental health. It’s good for boosting mood and energy levels, and it can help reduce stress. Gardening is a great way to get some physical activity, even if you’re not very physically fit.
3. Gardening can be meditative
If you’ve ever spent time working in your garden or your flower beds, you might notice that gardening can be somewhat of a meditative experience. It’s easy to get lost in the rhythm of planting, watering, weeding, etc. Spending time in your garden by yourself can be very relaxing and soothing for the mind.
4. Gardening lets you create something beautiful
There’s something about making your own garden or flower bed that is immensely satisfying. It’s almost like creating a piece of art. You get to decide what kinds of flowers or plants will go where, how high the grass should be, what kind of fencing you want, etc. And when it’s all said and done, your hard work will pay off; you’ll have something beautiful to look at every day. You can even get assistance from a professional garden designer to bring your garden vision to life.
5. Gardening is easy to incorporate into your daily life
You can set aside time each week to go gardening, or just find little pockets of free time throughout the week and do some gardening then. If you want, you could even try gardening with your children, so you can spend some quality time together.
6. Gardening lets you connect with nature
For many people who struggle with mental health issues like depression or anxiety, it might feel like nature is just something that exists on TV or in pictures. But nature can provide an immense sense of solace and comfort. And spending time outside, digging in the dirt, working with your hands — it’s all very grounding and therapeutic. It can help bring you back to earth, so to speak.
7. Gardening will lower your stress levels
This is another one of the many mental health benefits of gardening. There are so many things that cause us stress in our daily lives — work, school, family, etc. Gardening can help you slow down and relax because it’s so different from the pressures of your daily life. It’s a great way to decompress and take some time for yourself.
8. Gardening also provides an opportunity for socializing with others
Depending on what type of gardening you’re interested in, there might be many opportunities for socialization. If you prefer to garden alone, that is completely fine — and it can be very therapeutic. If you’d rather spend time with others while gardening, however, there are lots of ways to do that as well. You could join a community garden in your area, or a flower arranging club. You could even start a community garden with friends and enjoy spending time together in the sun.
9. Gardening may help improve sleep quality
Some research has shown that spending time outside, especially in the sun, can improve sleep quality and duration. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, consider spending some time gardening during the day.
10. Gardening can help you to appreciate life
Lastly, gardening is good for your mental health because it can help you learn to appreciate life. Many of us tend to forget how beautiful the world is, and we let life pass us by without fully enjoying it. Spending time in nature, especially in your own garden, can help restore that sense of wonder and appreciation for the simple things in life.
So, there you have it! Gardening can be both relaxing and therapeutic. It offers a lot of benefits that may be able to help with mental health struggles so you can give it a try to your own health.
