Gardening And Your Mental Health.
August is National Wellness Month. While we should prioritize our health every day, most do not and this can be used as a little kick in the pants 😊. There’s always something that “has” to be done. Somewhere we “must” go, someone we “have” to help.
Did you know that gardening has many benefits to both mental and physical being? The size of the garden does not matter. You can have a garden on your big spread, a balcony garden, pots or one pot.
It’s all about the joy you get and the beauty and/or food it gives you. So next time, do stop and smell the Roses or how about just look at the Roses.
Let’s Get Physical – Gardening is a whole body work out. Think about it, is there any muscle not in use while gardening? There are movements associated to gardening that are not performed daily. Pulling weeds (is not fun 😛), however, reaching for and bending over to get your tools help you to work muscles you forget you had.
***AS WITH ANY FORM OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, YOU SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION. DON’T OVER DO IT, IF IT HURTS… STOP! IF YOU UNABLE TO BEND USE RAISED FLOWER BEDS. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE FUN AND RELAXING NOT STRENUOUS. PREPARE YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY, STRETCH BEFORE STARTING.
Mr Golden Sun – Please shine down on me. That golden ball is not just there to keep us warm, it also provides us with Vitamin D. In case you don’t know it, Vitamin D is important for your overall health. It benefits us psychologically and physically. This amazing vitamin helps us to absorb calcium, boosts our immune system and helps to lessen symptoms of anxiety. Of course protect your skin from exposure with the appropriate sunscreen.
Talk Dirty To Me – Gardening regularly exposes you to (good) bacteria in the soil. This of course makes your immune systems much stronger. One of these good bacteria is Mycobacterium Vaccae. It is common in gardening soil and we absorb this microbe by inhaling or ingesting. Experts believe these good bacteria help with allergies and give your immune system a boost.
Besides, I know you remember playing in the mud as a child. Come on, you know you want to do it again, just do it. If you have kids, it can be something fun you can do together (you also get the benefit of saying you’re playing in the mud with your child).
Give Me Your Heart – Studies show that gardening can cut heart attack risks up to 30% for people 60 and over. Just 10 minutes gardening can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol.
All A Twitter – Make some feathered friends with your garden. Many plants attract birds. You may not want to attract a flock but one or two may be nice. Find out what birds are native to you region and if you’re allowed hang a bird feeder. If not plant a sunflower. Learn about pollinator garden here.
Mental – Did you know gardening reduces stress and anxiety? Gardening lowers cortisol “the stress hormone” levels. Stress is linked to obesity, heart disease, anxiety to name a few.
A 2006 study found that gardening could lower risk of dementia by 36 percent.
With A Little Help From My Friends – You’ve probably driven by one of them and thought it looks like fun. Gardening is a very social activity. Why not join or start a community garden association?
You grow you own fruits and vegetables, contribute to the community and best of all you meet new friends.
So with all these benefits, don’t you think it’s about bloomin’ time to get out there? Get physical, listen to your heart, say yes to Mr. Golden sun, listen as those birds get all a twitter. Dig your hands in the dirt while saying get dirty with me. Give that brain something to smile about and make new or join old friends.
Say thank you to Mother Nature. Breathe in… Breathe out…
What do you do to get out there? What’s your go to flower or vegetable?
Don’t forget to reach out to someone, just to see how they’re doing. It does make a difference.
Who’s Your Dahlia – It’s About Bloomin’ Time!