Gardening is more than just shoveling dirt and watering plants. It is a way to get outside with a purpose, enjoy the sunshine, get a little exercise and grow your own veggies and herbs! Gardening is great for people of all ages. It is a way for you to relax without being a couch potato.
Below are 5 reasons gardening is good for your health:
- Exercise- It is likely that you spend far more time inside than outside. With working 40 hours a week, balancing a family and house it can be hard to find time for yourself, let alone time to do a little exercising. Did you know that spending 30 minutes a day in your garden counts as moderate activity? This is a great way for you to get a little physical activity between work and play.
- Spending time planning out what kinds of veggie and herbs you will grow is a mental workout in itself!While planning, you will get a chance to familiarize yourself with vegetation that does well in your area and how to best arrange it.
- If you suffer from depression, gardening is a great way to give you sun exposure and breakup your day to day thoughts. Spending time out in the sun is one of the best ways to increase your own serotonin levels, a natural chemical that works at fighting depression.
- Gardens have a calming effect on the human psyche. Simply having lively greenery around your home can improve your mood and reduce stress. Signs of life help to bring a feeling of renewal, especially after winter, and gardens give you a feeling of accomplishment that is nearly unrivaled. If you are making your yard look better or growing vegetables, you will have a constant reminder of your hard work, whether that is on a plate at dinner time or right outside your window.
- If you choose to plant a vegetable garden, you get the added benefit of home grown food. This is not only a great way to save money but the food is healthier and you know exactly where it is coming from!