There are plenty of ways to reduce stress, from exercise to soothing music to meditation, but research shows that gardening has many benefits. Gardening may be the perfect way to relax and lower your stress level as you enjoy the fruit of your labor. In this guide, we’ll explore how gardening promotes stress relief and relaxation in older adults, as well as tips and tricks on how to get started if you’re over 50 years old.
Gardening Can Reduce Feelings of Loneliness
Gardeners share a unique bond with their plants and enjoy seeing them grow. Even when they’re sick, gardeners continue to tend to their gardens out of a sense of duty to something alive longer than they have. One study found that elderly adults who gardened showed less loneliness and depression than those who didn’t.
Gardening Is Good for the Soul
Retirees often use gardening as a way to relieve stress. It’s not hard to see why. When you spend time in your garden, you’re concentrating on one thing at a time—pulling weeds or pruning branches, for example—and it’s usually just you and nature.
It Gives You Purpose
Even if it’s simply planting an herb garden, having a goal gives you something to work towards. Having a purpose can help alleviate stress. When people don’t have enough to do, their brains are more likely to focus on stressful thoughts and feelings. Simply having a purpose can reduce your overall stress level.
Exercise and Burning Calories
Plant, water, and tend to a garden. It might not feel like exercise at first glance, but gardening can be as heart-pumping as any other activity. Because it uses many parts of your body at once—your arms, legs, and hands—gardening can be considered a whole-body workout. And aside from being good for you physically, it may help your mental health as well.
You Can Do It with Family Members or Friends
Engaging in outdoor activities with family members is always more fun, which reduces stress even more. If you don’t have family nearby, why not join a community gardening group? Many groups across America get together to the garden for fun or charitable purposes. You can learn how to get involved at local community centers or church organizations.
Getting in Touch with Yourself
Gardening allows you to slow down and be in nature for a while. It provides an opportunity for reflection, allowing your mind to wander freely, with only your thoughts keeping you company for a while. It’s easy to lose track of time when you are surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers, completely forgetting about everything else going on in your life!
Muscle-Strengthening
Physical activity relieves tension, improves sleep, and boosts mood. The problem? Too many older adults aren’t active enough and find it challenging to start an exercise program, which is why gardening makes such a great stress reliever: It’s easy to do and doesn’t require any previous training or gym memberships. All you need is a patch of dirt and a little bit of energy.
And at the end, you get to harvest your fruits of labor. If you think about all of these benefits together; it shouldn’t be hard to understand why individuals who garden feel healthier and happier than people who don’t garden.
