Gardening is great for positive mental health

IT might seem like a new idea but the benefits of gardening has many positives for our mental wellness. The recent explosion in openness surrounding the importance of mental health has helped make the vital connection between gardening and mental wellness and it’s a message that needs to be shared wide and far.

A recent study in the US discovered that handling garden soil now produces the same level of endorphins we get from walking or exercising. This connectivity between humans and soil is one of the oldest links there is and it’s easy to understand why soil cultivation and growing plants has a place all to itself in the hearts and minds of people.

Studies have shown that people who garden regularly are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress. It might not be an exact science, but few people who have taken part in the special connection between soil and plants can say their experience was a negative one, or that they did not derive some meaningful pleasure from a few hours spend in the garden.

Gardening, by its very definition, is something that keeps us connected to living things. It encourages us to nurture, be less insular and to find peace and self-satisfaction within our lives. Gardening teaches us key lessons about trial and error, while also absorbing us in the great outdoors and de-stresses us from the hectic day-to-day intrusions of work and personal troubles.

It’s also very pleasant the way gardening makes us more receptive to tasks that are, in essence, repetitive but are hugely enjoyable and beneficial in adding a sense of structure to life: weeding, watering, trimming and sowing might not sound appealing, but they are responsibilities that help keep us connected with our surroundings.

Be sure to lose yourself in the vast beauty of the garden this summer and reap the benefits of peacefulness and mindfulness. It’s a simple and lasting pleasure in a world that falsely promises instant gratification.