Effects of Gardening on Physical and Mental Health

We are well aware that gardening has
therapeutic effects. It benefits our mental and physical health. This is why
gardening exercise is emphasized globally, and awareness is raised about its
positive effects on mental and physical health to encourage people to adopt
this hobby for improved health.

According to experts, gardening is
an excellent exercise that engages all muscle groups. Additionally, strenuous
gardening activities such as mowing the lawn and digging are considered highly
aerobic and help strengthen muscles.

Duration
of Gardening

Experts recommend walking or running
briskly for 10,000 steps daily for a healthy life. This is approximately 5
miles. If you can’t walk or run 5 miles daily, you have another option: engage
in gardening activities for 60 minutes a day, which provides benefits
equivalent to running 5 miles. According to experts, an hour of gardening burns
300 calories.

Different exercises have different
benefits. For instance, specific exercises strengthen arms, legs, or mental
health through yoga or meditation. Gardening, however, is a ‘universal
exercise’ with positive effects on the entire body and mental health.

Effects
on Mental Health

It is said that for mental peace and
tranquility, distance yourself from mechanical environments and get closer to
nature. Trees, plants, and the earth connect us to nature, which alone can
improve our mental health. Moreover, spending time in the sun (remember to use
sunscreen to protect your skin) regulates your mood and provides free vitamin
D. Unlike running on a treadmill, gardening brings you closer to nature.

Focus
Enhancement

Gardening also naturally enhances
focus, positively affecting mental health. Modern activities, like using
smartphones and other electronic gadgets, require effort to focus, draining
mental energy. Gardening, by connecting us to nature, naturally enhances our
focus, refreshing our mental energy.

Effects
on Physical Health

According to the American
Horticultural Therapy Association, gardening is an ideal exercise because it provides
three types of fitness: strength, endurance, and flexibility. Bending to mow or
reaching for something high increases flexibility. Digging or lifting gardening
tools increases strength. Spending a day in your garden demonstrates how
gardening significantly boosts endurance. This is excellent news, but there’s
more.

Gardening
Locations

If you don’t have a garden, don’t
worry. You can grow vegetables, plants, and flowers in your apartment balcony
or home yard. If nothing else, you can have indoor plants.

Best
Hobby for Children

If you have children enjoying summer
vacations, don’t let their time go to waste. If they aren’t joining a summer
camp, engage them in a ‘summer gardening project’ at home. Childhood is the
time to instill healthy habits and skills that last a lifetime. So, this
summer, say goodbye to smartphones and introduce your children to nature with a
trowel in hand and let them get a little dirty.

Embrace gardening exercises and
remember to avoid using leaf blowers, gas-powered turners, and mowers. Try to
permanently forgo these gardening gadgets because there’s no exercise better
than gardening.