Gardening can mean many things – from planting a wildflower patch for the bees, or growing your own vegetables or fruits, to simply caring for a houseplant, or mowing the lawn. Getting to know the natural world around you and picking up a new hobby, whatever your age, can be very positive for your mental and physical wellbeing.
Let’s dig in and take a look at the five key benefits of gardening;
Time in nature – When we spend time in natural light it boosts serotonin levels, helping reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and kicking our circadian rhythm into gear, resulting in a better night’s sleep. Living within a kilometre of a green space has even been shown to reduce the risk of 15 major illnesses in adults and children.
Physical activity – As little as 10 minutes of exercise a day can reduce your risk of an early death, so don’t underestimate the power of a good potter. Whether you’re watering plants located around the house, fetching items from a shed, walking to an allotment, park or round a garden centre, the activity all adds up.
Mental wellbeing – Focusing on a manual task can be therapeutic, giving us time to reflect on that week or day’s achievements and lessons, as well as prepare for upcoming challenges. Be it digging, planting, repotting or weeding, finding a satisfying task to complete that enables us to process, or escape, the everyday can help reduce stress levels and restore positive mood.
Community – Joining a gardening club, community garden, online forum or allotment group can be a great way to connect with like-minded people, increasing your social circle and prompting meaningful conversations about a topic you love. Regular socialising can help to prevent feelings of loneliness and boost your sense of purpose. Plus, being able to share or swap any surplus plants and produce will leave you feeling great.
Learning – Trying new hobbies is not always easy. There’s no guarantee that your first attempt(s) will be successful, but with a little perseverance you might discover you have greener fingers than you thought! There are plenty of magazines, courses, websites, books, videos and advice available to help with troubleshooting and learning more about gardening.
With so many positive benefits to gardening, it’s easy to see why it’s become increasingly popular. From aiding in stress reduction to increasing your daily exercise, or even helping you sleep better, there are multiple ways in which your wellbeing might benefit from spending more time outdoors, or around nature. If you haven’t already, why not give it a try?