Top 5 Reasons Why Gardening is Beneficial for Our Mental Health
I recently wrote about the benefits of being around flowers, so today I wanted to dive into a related topic that also has amazing benefits: Gardening!
Here are the top 5 reasons why gardening is good for our mental health:
1) Gardening Reduces Stress
A report in the Mental Health Journal found that gardening can reduce stress, improve mood, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Further, many studies including one by van den Berg and Custers in 2011, found that even a short-time (several hours) in a garden can provide “an instantaneous beneficial influence on health (e.g. reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms).”
2) Gardening Improves Confidence and Motivation
Thrive ran a study with 317 people who took part in table-top gardening sessions across Berkshire, Hampshire and South Oxfordshire. 80% reported better mental health as a result and 93% reporting they had improved their confidence and motivation.
3) Gardening Reduces Cortisol Levels
Working in the garden reduces cortisol levels, a chemical your body produces in response to stress, even more than reading a book. And if you’re not up for gardening right now, just sitting in a garden helps too (Source).
4) Gardening Strengthens Connections & Community
A study published in the journal Ecopsychology found that community gardens improved community connection and self-reported well-being. In addition, a study by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture specialist, Charlie Hall, Ph.D, found that “interacting with nature around puts the mind more in touch with the community.”
5) Gardening Can Improve Memory and Concentration
Studies have found gardening can improve brain function, concentration and memory, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. One Australian study followed 3,000 older adults for over 15 years, tracking the incidence of dementia and a variety of lifestyle factors. The study found that gardening every day was the single biggest risk reduction for dementia, reducing incidence by over a third (Source).
I can’t wait to get outside and get my hands in the dirt! Has gardening improved your mental health? Email me at kelli@floweremedy.co. I’d love to hear about it!
Note: The posts on this website are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
