Gardening is more than just a way to improve your home, it is a hobby and a powerful way of calming your mind from life’s everyday stresses. Studies have shown that gardening can reduce mental health problems including anxiety and depression, so let’s explore the ways gardening can help improve your life for the better.

Mental Health Benefits of Gardening

Research has shown that spending time both outdoors and with plants can have a huge positive impact on our well-being.

1. Improved mood

Not only does gardening help boost your mood, it can also provide you with a sense of accomplishment. Watching those seeds you have planted bloom into stunning flowers can fill you with a real sense of achievement. The colourful blooms can also encourage the release of endorphins, so get planting now ready for spring!

2. Stress relief

Before you even start using your frustration to dig up tired plants and replace them, simply being around greenery and nature has a calming effect on the mind. This can help reduce your heart rate and blood pressure, so is good for your physical health as much as your mental health. Tending to plants can help you reach a meditative state, taking you away from the stress and worries of everyday life.

3. Surrounded by nature

Gardening allows you to connect with the outdoors, and breathing in all that fresh air can help reduce anxiety. As the days get longer and the sun starts making more of an appearance, it is hard to resist spending time outdoors in the garden to escape life. You don’t even have to be tending to your garden - simply sitting outside and looking over all your hard work can help relax the mind.

4. Sense of community

Gardening doesn’t have to be a solo sport, particularly if you have a patch in a local allotment. Joining a local gardening club or helping with community gardens can help you make new friendships and share knowledge with each other. This can help to combat the feelings of isolation or loneliness, giving you that mood boost you need.

5. Physical calming of the body 

Remember gardening is actually a form of low-intensity exercise as well as being a good mindfulness tool. Digging, planting, and weeding all require physical exertion which can help release endorphins as much as a good walk outdoors does! Being present and focusing on the act of planting can help relax the mind into a meditative state.

The Positive Effects of Nature on Mental Health

Being in nature has a huge benefit on one’s mental health, even the increased absorption of Vitamin D by exposing your body to sunlight will help boost your mood. Vitamin D is also known for regulating the immune system so you will feel physically better for staying outdoors a little longer too.

Being in nature is a great way to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and having your hands covered in soil is a great way to distract yourself from technology too! Exposure to nature has been proven to improve self-esteem as well as boost our overall moods. It opens up our brains to the world outside, which can help put our worries about life into perspective.

Gardening Can Help Those Suffering With Mental Health 

Gardening provides a peaceful, therapeutic environment where you can escape the pressures of life. It can also act as a form of self-care, providing a healthy outlet for managing difficult emotions and anxiety. For those struggling with depression, nurturing plants and seeing them bloom can provide a sense of achievement and hope that better days are just around the corner. Gardening can remind us that even in the face of challenging times, growth is possible.

Spending time outdoors and connecting with nature can be a really grounding experience, providing a sense of calm and peacefulness. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenges it may be an idea to take up gardening and just try the experience. You may be pleasantly surprised at the healing benefits gardening can provide.