How Gardening Supports Your Emotional and Mental Well-Being

If you’re looking for a new hobby, gardening could be a good option, mainly because it allows you to spend time outdoors in fresh air and connect with nature. Choosing this activity has many benefits; for example, gardening gives your body gentle exercise, beautifies the space, and saves you some money on buying fresh produce. The most important benefit, though, especially as you age, is that gardening helps improve your emotional and mental well-being.

Mental and Emotional Benefits of Gardening

Gardening can help your mind in several ways. You will notice the benefits over time if you perform the activity consistently.

Boosts Mood

When you bend to dig the soil or move about the yard to water the plants, your body gets a fair share of exercise. And every time you exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals are also known as “feel-good brain chemicals” because they improve your mood. So, if you’re having a disappointing day, a short gardening session can help you feel better and cope with the situation.

Reduces Stress

Stress can result from several factors, such as chronic health problems, family responsibilities, and financial difficulties due to retirement. While there are many ways to deal with such situations, gardening can be a simple way to relax, at least for a moment. A simple walk in the garden, surrounded by plants and greenery, can calm your mind and let you think clearly. Moreover, as your body tires out from different gardening activities, you will enjoy better sleep, which is also important to relieve stress.

Promotes Mindfulness

Feeling the soil in your bare hands, taking in the fragrance of fresh flowers, and looking at new leaves blossom are all experiences that promote mindfulness. Although you may not realize it, gardening helps anchor your awareness in the here and now, gently pulling your focus away from distracting thoughts about the past or future.

Instills a Sense of Purpose

Gardening is a challenge that not everyone can take on. It requires time, hard work, and a lot of patience. But once you’ve poured your heart into it and the results start to show, the sense of purpose and fulfillment is unmatched. Imagine sowing tomato seeds in a pot and watching them grow and produce juicy, red fruit! The process of tending to the plant will not be easy, but it will give you a sense of accomplishment.

Improves Cognition

Gardening is a wonderful way to stimulate the mind and keep it sharp. As you go about growing plants and looking after them, you will encounter several issues that will improve your problem-solving and planning skills. Dealing with watering, sowing, and harvesting cycles will also support your memory.

Provides a Sense of Belonging

Gardening does not have to be a solitary activity. You can invite your friends, family, or neighbours over to look at your garden and even ask if they would be interested in working on the project together. Performing the activity with someone will spark conversations, not only about gardening but also about shared experiences and common interests. Ultimately, it will build and nurture social connections within the community, giving you a sense of belonging.

While you can consider gardening for stress relief and happiness, these are not the only benefits you will enjoy. Many gardening benefits for seniors extend beyond mental and emotional well-being. For instance, you can access freshly grown herbs and veggies that are free from pesticides and chemicals. Additionally, spending time in sunlight will boost your vitamin D intake, which is necessary for critical functions, like calcium absorption for strong bones.

Staying Safe While Gardening

Watering the plants, adding manure to them, and organizing them are all therapeutic gardening activities you will likely enjoy. Having said that, you must take a few precautions and safety measures.

• Digging the soil, sowing seeds, and raking fallen leaves require you to bend. If this feels like too much effort, consider installing raised garden beds. Raised beds bring the garden to a more comfortable working height, preventing strain on your joints.
• Lawn mowers, trimmers, and pruners can be quite heavy, requiring a lot of strength to use. To avoid strain on your back, use lightweight tools. Also, ensure they have ergonomic features such as padded handles, non-slip grips, and easy-to-use mechanisms.
• Spending too much time in the sun can be damaging to the skin, especially for mature skin. This makes it important to regulate time outdoors. You can also wear a hat and sunscreen before venturing out during the day. Most importantly, don’t forget to take regular breaks to rest, hydrate, and avoid overexertion.
• Design the garden with wide, flat, and even paths made from non-slip materials to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs and prevent tripping hazards.