Spring is here and your gardening season is about to begin. Aside from creating a sustainable addition to your meals, gardening is good for both your mental and physical health.
But why is that?
Researchers have been looking into it – and they’ve found there’s something about green environments which help with regular exercise. They compared treadmill runners looking at screens that were green, red, black and white, and no view at all, and the green screen runners felt exercise was easier, and they had an improved mood and better self-esteem.
Keeping our attention focused on gardening is also a great mindfulness activity – you clear out extraneous thoughts and focus on what’s right in front of you – tending to the garden has long been used as an important therapeutic tool.
Gardening can also have a positive impact for those suffering from loneliness and isolation – gardening tends to attract neighbors, who are apt to ask and start conversations.
While the science is still being determined, the bottom line is when it comes to horticultural therapy, if it feels good, do it!
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