How Gardening Gives You Peace Of Mind
(photo via Pinterest)
By Richmond Acosta
Gardening has been proven by countless researches to be an excellent way to keep the mind sound and healthy. Talk to a local gardener and you will hear anecdotes on how gardening gives you peace of mind and happiness. It does not matter whether you are working on a hundred-acre farm or just your small backyard, or whether you are planting on small flower pots or you are having a cultivation tools, studies show that gardening can give you peace of mind.
If you are a gardener, I bet you have experienced having little moments of peace when you are doing chores in your little garden. It does not matter how stressed out or bored you feel. For many gardeners, stepping outside into their garden can be an uplifting experience. Many people consider gardening as an important hobby for them. Even though the work is hard when gardening, the positive effects on your mind and body are vital to your well-being. If you will check on gardeners, you will realize that many of them have that positive attitude and good disposition in life. This is because gardening is such a great activity to keep your mind well and healthy.
So how exactly does gardening help your mental state? The following are the top three reasons why gardening gives you peace of mind. Hopefully, if you are not a gardener, this list can help you make that decision to make the lifestyle change and be a gardener.
THE TOP THREE REASONS HOW GARDENING GIVES YOU PEACE OF MIND
Here is the list of the top three reasons gardening gives a person peace of mind. This list is by no means complete. If we are going to ponder on it, this list can go on. However, these are the top three reasons why gardening is good for your mental health.
- GARDENING IS A GREAT SOURCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE
A healthy body is a temple of a healthy mind. When you are gardening, you are always doing something physical. Whether you are carrying soil or merely cutting excess twigs, when you work in your garden, you are doing physical activities and exercising your bones and muscles. Don't forget to apply natural deodorant to stay feeling fresh and odor-free during your gardening sessions. This in turn creates a healthy body. A healthy and strong body is a start to a pre-disposition in life. With a healthy body, you are more confident! You tend to not have a lot of anxiety involving your body image. The fact that you are not sick means that you do not have to worry about any kind of ailments or illnesses. All of these contribute to your peace of mind that you are looking for.
- GARDENING INDUCES THE SECRETION OF THE HAPPY HORMONE ENDORPHIN
Athletes and gym-goers have time and time again described the euphoric feeling when they are exerting their muscles. In many ways, people describe that intense happiness and a sense of accomplishment after working out. With gardening, it is the same.
The fact is, moving your body regularly and exerting pressure on your bones and muscles is an excellent way to improve your mood. How? You see, during exercise, your brain releases endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that create a euphoric and happy feeling. The endorphins are said to be the body’s natural defense against the pain, which people experience after strenuous activities like exercising or gardening. Endorphin is kind of like natural anesthesia. The same with artificial anesthetic drugs, endorphins numb the pin and create a euphoric high that people experience. This is all-natural and good for you. Hence, when you are gardening, your brain produces endorphins which result in the same kind of euphoria that you will feel when you are working out. In turn, leaves you feeling happy. In doing so, you are lowering your anxiety.
- GARDENING TAKES YOUR MIND OFF OF STRESSFUL THOUGHTS
Gardening reduces stress by keeping you busy. Gardening takes up a lot of mental focus to do. As such, when a person is stressed or anxious, gardening is a great opportunity to let go of these negative thoughts. Gardening will keep your mind busy. This way, instead of thinking about your problem, you will soon find yourself thinking about the things you need to finish in your garden. In short, gardening keeps you occupied. And when your mind is occupied by your plants and your lawn, there is no more space for you to think about your everyday struggle.
CONCLUSION
Different studies as well as anecdotes from gardeners have pointed out the benefits of gardening in the health and wellbeing of individuals. Gardening gives you peace of mind in so many ways. Gardening keeps your body healthy and lowers down the likelihood of anxiety. Gardening also brings you to nature, which scientists say is a great way to improve mood and avoid depression.
