Guest columnist, M.T. Donnell chats about why gardening could be your secret hack to greater happiness...
If you knew that there was one activity in which you could engage that would feed your mind, body and soul would you give it a go?
Well, there is… and it’s right outside your back door, on your balcony, in a pot or even on your windowsill. It’s vitamin gardening, an activity which will elevate you to a place of calm, of satisfaction, of pride.
If you’re seeking an activity to boost your health and wellbeing across the board then look no further than gardening.
No, it’s not just for your parents or grandparents and it doesn’t have to take up lots of your time… plus the benefits are worth it.
Gardens and allotments restore us in so many ways, coaxing us into a better mood or getting us moving when we don’t feel like it, gently distracting us from nagging worries when a seedling germinates, a beautiful blossom opens or we revel in the joy of eating our own produce.
Studies have shown that simply being in a garden is good for mind, body and soul: it lowers the heart rate, calms brain activity, and makes people feel more connected to the world around them.
Mind
The mental health charity MIND did a study comparing short walks through a garden with short walks through a shopping centre. Those who walked through a garden showed the greater improvement in mental health.
And I’m sure they spent less money too!
Jokes aside, levels of the stress hormone cortisol are thought to reduce after half an hour in the garden or on the allotment and a report in the Mental Health Journal confirmed gardening as having the capability to reduce stress and improve mood, with a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Research in Sweden found access to a garden had a significant positive impact on stress. This was true even if the person had a simple balcony.
So-called green care, or therapy by exposure to plants and gardening, is becoming more popular. Several trials have revealed the beneficial effects on mood and mental health of simply observing nature, or even images of natural scenes. In a Japanese study, viewing plants altered EEG recordings and reduced stress, fear, anger and sadness, as well as reducing blood pressure, pulse rate and muscle tension.
Body
Most people probably don’t realise that regular energetic gardening also provides the same positive physical health benefits as jogging or swimming.
During moderate-intensity exercise, you can burn around 300 calories doing one hour of light gardening like pushing a lawnmower or wheelbarrow around which is more calories burned than walking at a moderate pace for the same amount of time.
Added benefits are being outside breathing in fresh air, gaining a vitamin D boost and connecting with nature whilst benefitting from the physical exercise of gardening.
And even for those who might not be in the best physical health, there are elements of gardening that can be done with limited physical activity while still reaping the benefits of the fresh air, connection and enjoying the fruits of their labour.
Soul
Did you know just being near a plant can reduce your blood pressure, slow your heart rate and decrease feelings of pain, stress and fear? There are some fascinating studies in Asia that have measured these changes taking place.
Even as far back as 1993 a study of post-surgery patients who were presented with different views in their rooms whilst recovering, found those who looked on to natural scenes needed fewer doses of strong pain medication and were less anxious overall in recovery.
And gardening helps strengthen that connection between us as humans and the earth, reminding us that we are a tiny part of a huge, beautiful picture, but also reinforcing the miracle of growth and regeneration.
Vitamin G
Never has it been more important to get outside for fresh air and exercise. Just thirty minutes of gardening activity will give you fresh air, a dose of vitamin D, physical exercise and will relieve stress and lift your mood – all of which will lead to a better night’s sleep.
If you needed a final reason to convince you of engaging with vitamin G, gardening has been shown as an activity which can prevent cognitive decline and in Japan, studies have linked access to green space to increased longevity. So for a longer, healthier and happier life, get out and pick up a spade!
