There are times that other writers reach out to me to share their stories. Rae is a graduate of Tufts University and asked if I would use her piece. It really resonated with me. And so I am sharing it here with you. It’s about gardening and how it improves your health.
We usually think of healthy as the opposite of sick, but a truly healthy life involves more than a mere lack of illness. Along with physical health, it’s important to acknowledge the role of mental health. Psychologically healthy people experience less anxiety, a greater feeling of community, and an overall higher degree of happiness.
Gardening is great for both physical and mental health issues. In terms of physical health, just pushing a cordless lawn mower for an hour can burn 250-350 calories. In this article, we’ll take a look at three of the most common ways in which gardening can help improve your overall health.
Grow Your Confidence
Keeping your own garden gives you something to manage and take responsibility for, helping you feel accomplished and invested in your results. You could also learn how to use an electric grass trimmer and other tools. The more time you spend gardening, the more confident you’ll feel in expanding your garden, trying new plants, and expanding your horizons in general.
Learning about different plants, tools, and growing techniques helps you feel more capable. Then, as you apply this knowledge to your garden and reap the results, you’ll feel the reward in a very tangible way (think beautiful flowers or fresh veggies). There’s nothing quite like the feeling of realizing your green thumb potential!
Lower Levels of Stress
Gardening is an inherently tranquil and peaceful activity, so it’s no surprise that it’s been linked to a reduction in cortisol, a hormone that increases stress. Contemporary living can be extremely stressful, and it’s critical for each of us to find ways to decompress from the stressors of day to day life.
You can maintain a healthy garden with only a little work each day, making this a convenient hobby for anyone on a busy schedule. Plants can also grow in surprisingly contact spaces, and you don’t need any outdoor space to keep a small garden with a variety of plants.
Better Sleep
Our bodies rely on circadian rhythms to regulate our sleep schedules, so exposure to light during the day can help us get better sleep at night. This is especially relevant during the COVID-19 quarantine, as most of us are spending far more time than usual indoors.
Even if you’re gardening inside, simply spending time in sunlight will help your body adjust to your schedule and get deeper sleep at night. In turn, better sleep leads to a wide range of benefits including improved concentration, memory, and heart health.
Gardening is enjoyable in itself, but it’s also worth pursuing for the health benefits it can lead to. While everyone’s experience is different, many people report experiencing these and other changes after gardening. These are just a few more reasons to consider starting your own garden.