Another Reason To Gardening: A Stress Reliever

Stress is something that you encounter every day. Gardening is one of the tools to deal with it if you want to be happy and healthy.

Just about every illness is either directly caused, or made worse, by stress. That includes heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, along with:

• Back pain and headaches
• Stomach and digestive problems
• The growth of tumors
• Sleep loss and fatigue
• Skin problems
• Weight gain or loss
• Depression
• Confusion, irritability, forgetfulness and more

While stress plays havoc physiologically, even depleting our bones, research shows that gardeners do not suffer from osteoporosis because of weight bearing activities like digging, raking, squatting to plant shrubs, lifting bags of soil, or pushing a lawnmower.

Have you ever noticed that some of the calmest people are dedicated gardeners? Most of them don’t have large gardens, but they are committed to being outside in their “space” on a regular basis.

Gardening is one of the best kept secrets around for a complete workout. No expensive equipment required. A hoe, a rake and a desire are mostly what are needed to start. Thirty minutes and longer of continual gardening is equal to a good workout at the gym. You will get in your aerobics, weight training, running, and stretching.

Nothing makes me feel better than being outside on a warm sunny day working in my garden. It helps me relax, gives me time to think and just makes me feel really good. For me it works better than meditation or yoga or even traditional therapy.

The stress just melts away as I dig in the dirt and pull weeds. I love the anticipation of wondering what the flowers will look like and I get excited every time a bud blooms. It is such a great feeling to know that I had a part in creating something beautiful.

Studies show that just looking at a garden can be good for your psychological health. Bright colored flowers make people feel happy. Being outside and smelling the fragrance of the flowers and fresh-cut grass can be deeply relaxing

At harvest time I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I can put fresh food on my table and say, “I grew that,” or, “That came out of my garden.” I love sharing the fresh fruits and vegetables with my family and friends.

Scientists have known for a while now that lack of sunlight can be detrimental to our mental health. Lack of sunlight can make you sleep too much, feel lifeless, crave bad foods such as sweet and starchy items, and even make you feel depressed. Getting out and tending to the plants in your garden will help you get more of the much needed sunlight, which will also provide you with vitamin D.

Besides the feeling of warmth, you are getting vitamin D which helps raise your mood. Because gardening is a beloved hobby, gardeners lose track of time and therefore do not age while immersed in their passion!

In addition, gardening lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. We spend our lives wishing to return to the Garden of Eden in the afterlife; yet the Garden of Eden is here on earth…

Want  to know more about the joys of gardening to relieve stress? Then put your question here.

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener

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Tagged as: gardening, relaxing, stress, stress reliever, vitamin D