If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, there is a whole world of benefits tucked away in that outdoor space. It’s not just a spot to enjoy sunny weather, but a place that does your mind and body a lot of good. We’ve collected some of the best gardening benefits.
Healthy Weight
Gardening is great exercise. It can burn 200-500 calories an hour and can help you maintain a healthy weight. Any activity is good activity – from weeding the lawn to watering the plants. It’s physical work that’s well worth the effort. Especially if you’re growing your own fruit and vegetables, this lends itself to eating healthier too. So it might be worth investing in a polytunnel to help you – and your crops – flourish.
Help Body
Though people think of the gardener’s green thumb, the whole body benefits from gardening. It can strengthen your heart and your muscles. It can improve your balance and flexibility. Gardening can add years to your life and prevent diseases. These include cancer, dementia, and sarcopenia – which is a loss of muscle mass and density. You may feel like you’re not doing much but you’re doing your body so much good. Plus, by being outside more, you’re giving yourself a boost of vitamin D.
Mental Wellbeing
It’s not just your physical health that can benefit from gardening, but also your mental health. Studies have shown that it can cause a significant reduction in depression and anxiety. Going into your garden can help you feel less stressed and allows you to switch off from the rest of the world for a while. Another study showed that people who live near a green space reported less mental distress. Gardening is not just about nurturing the land, but also your mind.
Read next: Tomato Gardening Tips Every Beginner Needs to Know
Present Moment
There’s a reason why so many people view their garden as sacred space, and it’s just because they’re particularly proud of a recent plant. Gardening allows you to focus on the present moment and your surroundings. You become more aware of the seasons and feel more connected to the space. You can’t help but develop an emotional connection to your garden once you start taking care of it. You can create a special space for yourself.
There are so many physical and mental health benefits to gardening. If you’ve got a chance to work in a green space you should absolutely make the most of it. What’s your favourite thing about gardening?
