ad collaborative post // It has been difficult for most people to maintain their mental health over the last year. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your mood and overall health. Start taking some much-needed me-time and take up a new hobby.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Gardening is a brilliant way to spend time outside, reduce stress and take some time for you. In fact, there are very few activities with as many benefits as horticulture and gardening. Here are a few reasons why you need to take up gardening this year.
Reduces stress
The simple act of contemplating nature can help to reduce stress levels. Practise acceptance by embracing the unpredictability of nature. You can’t control the weather, bug infestations or hungry rodents, so just enjoy the act of gardening. Gardening is a great way to focus on the process instead of achieving the perfect end result.
It gives you a feeling of accomplishment
Getting outside and spending time away from your laptop screen is enough to give you a feeling of accomplishment. However, there is no greater feeling than eating freshly grown vegetables. Spend your time finishing up a veggie patch and building up cloches to protect them.
Try to develop a growth mindset so you can enjoy the process of growing veggies. If something doesn’t work out, you can learn from the experience for the next time. Experiment with different seeds and gardening methods to grow your skillset and have fun. Remember, gardening is a chance to play and learn without the pressure of needing to be successful.
Vitamin D
Enjoy the sunlight when you’re outside gardening. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and can reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Always wear SPF to protect against the harmful effects of the sun.
Get more active
Pottering around the garden isn’t exactly a HIIT workout, but it’s better than sitting in front of the TV all day. Adults over 50 are more likely to be more active and satisfied with their life if they do a spot of gardening. Enjoy the health benefits of light exercise and delicious healthy food!
It gives you a hobby
Embrace your green thumb in a gardening community where you can share tips and tricks with each other. Connect with other individuals over planting seeds and enjoy having something in common. You can build emotional and spiritual connections with other gardeners over a collective hobby.
[…] 3. Visit a farm or animal sanctuary 4. Bake a sweet treat 5. Have an Easter Egg hunt 6. Do some gardening 7. Create an Easter or Spring table centerpiece 8. Switch up your décor 9. Donate food to a food […]
I love gardening! It’s not just good for those over 50… It can also be beneficial for those facing a disability…
[…] 5 Benefits of Gardening For Your Mental Health […]
I started gardening at the beginning of this pandemic because lets face it, there wasn’t anything else to do. I’m really enjoying it and get so much satisfaction watching my seeds grow into beautiful flowers.
Thanks for sharing, i have a small patio with a few plants, getting out and tending them does help 🙂
I can’t wait until we move from our flat to a house so we finally have our own garden! I really miss having one once the weather warms up. I’ve never been into gardening much but it’s such a nice way to spend time outdoors in Summer and can do wonders for your mental health. Fab post lovely xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
I did alot of gardening during the summer last year just to give myself something to do and it genuinely is like a whole workout! A great form of exercise x
This is all so true! I’ve been working right through the pandemic, so I haven’t had a whole load of time in the garden but it makes such a huge difference when I get out there. Also, recently discovered I’m hugely vitamin D deficient, so get out in the sun everyone! Fun fact, sun cream blocks your vitamin d production (can’t win right?!) but I understand you only need a really short time (ie way, way less than you need outside to burn, and I’m a burner!) so I’m aiming to spend 10 minutes or so in the sun each day later in the year so I can stop taking these monster vitamin d tablets 🤣
Getting close to the nature is never without benefits!
Last year after the first lockdown gardening has been such a savior for us! We started planting veggies and flowers, we don’t have much space and everything is in pots, but it was such a great way to be outside under the sun! thanks for sharing x
I am not green fingered at all but I love sitting out in my garden. I do the odd bit of planting and maintenance, I’m like my fiance’s apprentice. Being outside with nature massively helps my brain all the time. Great tips in this post
Rosie
This post is literally SO fitting haha, I’ve been meaning to start a garden in our yard for quite some time now, and now I’m actually hoping to make that happen! I’ve been watching youtube videos on it and everything :’) x
I got into gardening last year and yes it has tremendously helped my mental health! I agree that it is so relaxing to do. It also gives me such joy when I see new growth from the plants!
I live in a flat and I so miss having a garden! There’s something about pottering around your garden that’s so fun!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
Great post, Jenny! This is the first time I actually have a place to garden so I’m hoping to do lots of fresh herbs soon and I’m super excited. It’ll be nice to have a variety of herbs that I can use whenever I cook! Thank you so much for sharing xx
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
I loved having a little veggie patch when I was younger, it was so incredible grow (and cook!) your own produce. Unfortunately I only have houseplants now but there’s definitely plenty of health benefits to gardening x
Wonderful post! There is nothing quite like gardening to boost your spirits! Great inspirational tips!
Great post! I’d love to get into gardening more, especially in the summer months xx
[…] 5 Benefits of Gardening For Your Mental Health — Jenny in Neverland […]
I have heard a lot supporting that gardening is great for mental health! I can see the appeal but I’m just too much of a coward to deal with bees and wasps!
Daisy xoxo | AccordingToDaisy
I’ve never really done much gardening, mainly because my dad is rather protective over “his” space but I’m quite looking forward to when I have my own place and can just do a bit of pottering. Never really thought about all the benefits like this before mind you, love it!
Defintiely agree, gardening can be so fullfilling and relaxing..
I literally just added gardening to my daily emotional balance list two days ago and now, see this!! Yes! ❤️🦋🌀🌅💦🌱
I’m not one for gardening that much but I do like to get out in the summer, it definitely does help my mental health by doing a little bit every now and then x
Samantha | https://samanthajblogs.co.uk
My mom loves gardening, every year shes straight down b&q to get some seeds to grow potatoes and carrots! Im not very good at gardening but i do love going outside to admire all the pretty flowers once they start blooming!
I do enjoy a good houseplant though, the feeling of watering it, keeping it allow and seeing it thrive is so good!
This is a lovely comment, and I so enjoyed reading it <3
I’m no gardener but I can definitely see why it would help somebody’s mental health! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I love gardening and I’m hoping to be able to do a bit more of it this year. My garden is currently a mess and should be getting sorted before the summer. Then I can hopefully start into my wild garden for the critters.
I only take care of succulents at the moment though I am hoping to get a houseplant or two for my birthday 🙂 I don’t yet do regular gardening but when I have some outdoor space next year, I’m really excited to grow lettuces 💚
You know it does work wonders it has been such a relief and go to for me love your content
Take care of the plants make me forget the stress that I have for a while 👍👍👍👍👍
This sounds coincidental, haha. My partner and I had only been looking at doing a spot of gardening and growing vegetables over the last couple of weeks or so. This was a great read. Very encouraging and thought provoking. Thanks for posting!
I dont have a garden, but I have really been getting into indoor plants, so I agree, quite coincidental!! 🙂
Bless. Well, I hope the indoor gardening goes well for you both. I’ve started doing the same thing, haha. Keep it up!
Love it! ahah
I’m not much of a Gardner but I know the benefits of being outside and what it does for your MH. Nothing beats fresh air!
Lovely post!
Olivia | https://olivialucieblake.com
Excellent, in today’s time, when mental troubles are taking an epidemic form, , such measures have become necessary.
Absolutely 🙂