Gardening is all about caring for plants. But it turns out that when you garden, you’re also caring for your own physical and mental wellbeing.
During Gardening Week now through June 8, we’re sharing five ways gardening enhances your quality of life.
1. Counts as exercise. An afternoon pulling weeds, spreading mulch, or planting flowers feels like exercise — and that’s because it is.
Gardening is considered moderate-intensity exercise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. A couple of mornings tending your garden will easily get you on your way toward that goal.
2. Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment. Just spending time around plants eases stress for many people.
3. Helps improve your diet. Enjoy the (literal) fruits of your labor. Adults should aim to eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables every day, according to the CDC.
4. Lets you soak up the sun. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body makes more vitamin D. This crucial vitamin helps support nerve, muscle, and immune health. (don’t forget to wear sunscreen.)
5. Builds Your Social Connection. Community gardens have garden plots full of vegetables, fruits, and flowers that are maintained by dedicated members of the community. If you rent one of these small plots, you can grow some fresh produce, even if you don’t have a yard at your home.
But that’s not all: Community gardens provide social interaction. It is a great way to make friends that have common interests with you.
Interested in joining our WellWithin Gardening Club? Reach out to Michele Clark at michele.clark2@geappliances.com