12/09/2022
Gardening & Mental Health
Part 2
How Gardening Affects Mental Health
Gardening has been around for as long as humans have been growing food. Through the centuries, gardens have served not only as places to grow plants but as spaces for people to relax, to focus, and to connect with nature and each other. Today, gardening can provide many mental health benefits for your daily life.
Benefits of Gardening for Mental Health
Gardening can improve many aspects of mental health, focus, and concentration.
#1. Improves mood -
Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment. Just spending time around plants eases stress for many people.
#2. Boosts self-esteem -
Self-esteem is how much you value and feel positively about yourself. Helping a plant grow is a big feat. When you see your work pay off with healthy plants, your sense of pride gets a boost.
#3. Improves attention span -
Gardening can change how well you pay full attention to a single activity. If you struggle with staying focused on tasks, conversations, or topics in your daily life, gardening can help you learn to concentrate on what’s right in front of you without getting distracted. Studies show that outdoor activities can reduce similar symptoms of ADHD.
#4. Provides exercise -
Things like weeding, digging, and raking are a good exercise. Regular exercise reduces anxiety, depression, and other mental issues, and can help prevent dementia. If you don’t like going to the gym, gardening can be an enjoyable way to still get these benefits.
#5. Encourages social bonds -
Gardening with others at a community garden or other group setting takes teamwork to achieve shared goals. Being part of a larger group can benefit your mental health by increasing your social connections and your support system
