Has life got you down? As mothers, balancing work and life every single day can be daunting. You have career ambitions but you also want to unwind with your family and friends. Likewise, you have hobbies and interests to pursue. Thankfully, you don’t have to go anywhere far to clear your mind. Here, we present 5 surprising mental health benefits of gardening.
1) Gardening Can Give You a Good Workout
Exercising does not always have to come in the form of jogging or carrying huge dumbbells in the gym. In fact, gardening for three to four hours could burn enough calories to match an hour’s worth of a gym workout. Apart from helping you stay fit, you get to be relaxed and happy through gardening.
This is due to the endorphins that your body releases after exercising. Also known as happy hormones, these are joined by serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin keeps us in a good mood while improving our sleep and appetite. Dopamine improves our cognitive functions and makes us feel satisfied. In contrast, extensive gardening will reduce the levels of cortisol, which is related to feelings of stress.
Thus, you get two benefits in one. You get to keep your garden healthy and beautiful while also giving your body a good workout without paying for any gym membership whatsoever. With this mindset, you wouldn’t feel bad about having to pull out pesky weeds all over your garden or trimming the hedges.
2) Gardening Makes Us Appreciate Nature
Just step out your front door and rest your eyes with the lush greenery. As you grow your plants, you get to examine them closely. You see the variations in patterns, colors, and textures in their stems, leaves, and flowers. In addition, gardening allows you to witness the process of natural growth. You see your seeds grow into seedlings and then mature plants or trees.
The surprises of nature are a good contrast to the otherwise dull and monotonous office routine. Also, gardening keeps you from being addicted to technology. Your eyes shouldn’t be glued to the screen all the time unless you want to have problems in sleeping. In your garden, you can witness insects, plants, birds, and the sky above. Thus, you feel connected to the natural world instead of being cooped up in your own room.
3) Gardening Allows You to Release Bad Feelings
When you are constantly surrounded by other people, you feel the need to adjust how you talk and behave. Any wrong move can make you feel as if everyone is judging you behind your back. Even if no social dilemma happens at work or at home, the stress of work and responsibilities can still build up at the end of the week.
Thankfully, no one is going to judge you in your garden. In the same way that you talk to your dog or cat at times, the plants won’t have any criticisms of you. You don’t have to be paranoid or anxious about them. If you want to release your frustrations, you can utilize those feelings to efficiently dig the soil or mow the lawn. Instead of forming destructive habits, you get to resolve your anger through productive means.
4) Gardening Gives a Sense of Control and Responsibility
Life can feel chaotic sometimes, but gardening can give you a sense of order. It might not arrange your entire life, but you get to feel in control for once. Similarly, you’re the one who chooses which plants to grow and where they should be in your garden. Your gardening decisions will lead to visible results. You become encouraged due to the responsibility you have toward your garden. In the long run, your sense of self-worth improves.
5) Gardening Helps You Focus on the Present
Are you constantly overthinking about project deadlines and how to save for the next family expenses? Similarly, do you tend to look back at personal failures and let them ruin your day? Well, gardening can help you think of the present instead. Gardens do not stay the same for long as seasons come and go.
Every day, different insects and flowers flock to your garden. Similarly, flowers regularly brighten up your day as they bloom. So instead of needlessly worrying about things that might not even happen in the future, you can appreciate what is right in front of you.
In conclusion, gardening is definitely good not only for the body but also for your mind. We hope that this inspired you to appreciate your garden more. If you have any queries, feel free to send us a comment.
