How Gardening can Improve Your Mental Health.

Image by Benjamin Combs on Unsplash

Over the years, studies have shown that we benefit from time and active engagement in nature. There is considerable evidence that spending time in a green setting, or working in the garden, reduces stress, improves mood, and leads to self-reported better wellbeing. Read on to discover how taking up gardening as a hobby can help change your overall mental health for the better.

1. It improves concentration

Are you or someone you know always losing concentration? Then your garden is the place to go. Gardeners have longer attention spans than the general population. Gardening can have a favourable, long-term effect on our emotions. If you have a temper, research shows that working about your house on a daily basis helps minimise the triggers that cause you to become angry, because the action provides you with a feeling of pleasure and success. Additionally, there are a variety of plants that can improve brain function, memory, and decision-making, which you should consider.

2. It helps you be less of a perfectionist

Gardening might just be an excellent antidote for perfectionism. There are innumerable elements you can't foresee, no matter how precisely you plan and execute your garden – bug infestations, severe weather, hungry rodents, and so on. At some time, almost every gardener may face difficulties in growing and caring for their plants. Learn from your errors and don't let them discourage you from gardening.

3. It encourages you to live in the moment

Anxiety grows greater when a person dwells too much on the past or worries too much about the future. Being in and near nature's ever-changing cycle helps us appreciate the mundane and concentrate on the 'present.' Gardening allows us to become more aware of seasonal changes as the garden grows week after week. Birds, bees, and butterflies visit at various times, and different plant species blossom at different times. You may have a work deadline approaching, but the breathtaking beauty of a newly blossoming peony will only be available for a short time, so take advantage of it. You can also relax and take in the scenery that you have designed yourself by decorating your garden with personalised touches that don’t have to be too costly or damaging to the environment – take a look at GlowGrounds for example.

4. It lowers levels of stress and anxiety

Gardening can assist with depression and anxiety symptoms by encouraging mindfulness. Living in the now, being focused on what you're doing, and using your senses to distract your mind from negative ideas is what mindfulness is all about. Gardening may help boost your mood by giving you a sense of achievement and purpose. You might find that it is ultimately uplifting to see things you are looking after flourish and thrive.

Additionally, spending time in nature allows you to disconnect from the strains of everyday life. Even 10 minutes in nature can provide a mental reset and aid to reduce stress levels. The physical exercise and exertion required to garden can also assist to relieve stress by lowering blood pressure and lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol.