Gardening During Times of Stress

We know that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for us to breathe. We know that they improve air quality and that they make our gardens and our homes look pretty and welcoming. BUT plants can also absorb negativity and release good energy if you give them a chance. Think of it this way: it’s human behaviour to try and control things even when there’s nothing we can do about them. Plants can teach us to let go, plants can teach us patience and be in the moment. There’s something mindful about gardening, very similar to a relaxing yoga sequence. So, if you’re feeling sad, disappointed or tensed (and you’ve got every reason to be considering the COVID-19 crisis) try gardening, let your plants help you relax.

How Can Gardening Help You Relax?

• Keeping you physically active. Even the less strenuous forms of gardening, or planting work, can keep you fit by lifting, spading, squatting or simply moving around in your garden. It’s not the same as going to the gym but it all depends on your intentions. If you want to use gardening to stay physically fit and get stronger you can absolutely introduce more exercises and body movement when working with your plants. Think of repetitions, sets of movement, and using all big muscle groups. And don’t forget to stretch once in a while, walk around, and breathe.

• Regulating your breathing. When we are stressed we breathe faster, when we breathe faster our muscles get tight and when our muscles get tight we breathe even faster. Fast breathing is linked to stress and anxiety. It’s a chain reaction. Building up stress can contribute to depression and anxiety but also can suppress the immune system. Gardening will help you slow down and find calmness. Being out in nature has a restorative effect on people’s health and wellbeing. Fresh air can promote feelings of calm, same as when focusing on a task that makes you feel happy. That’s when your breathing starts slowing down, that’s when you start becoming content with yourself and start relaxing. The levels of stress hormones, like cortisol, start decreasing and your brain gets the message.

• Releasing emotional energy. Gardening, like many manual activities with a tangible end-result, can help you focus and unwind. Mindfulness helps you be present and concentrate on yourself and on the moment, which in turn helps you relax and release negative emotions. You can forget all that’s going on in your life, focus on your emotions and feel serene just planting little seeds in the soil. And this is what makes gardening a meditative activity. Just like meditating, gardening can slowly teach you to open-up, release accumulated emotional energy, be present and let go of what you can’t control. And seeing your plants growing can give you a great feeling of accomplishment, which can boost your self-esteem.

• Eating healthy. Last but not least don’t forget that if you’re also growing your own food this is another reason why planting will help you stay healthy. Acting good and eating well. Introducing fresh food into your diet, food from your garden without preservatives will reduce stress hormones and will probably help you eat healthier and make healthier choices overall.

There’s a lot of research about the emotional and cognitive benefits gardening has on people’s lives. The possible mental and physiological mechanisms triggered when people get in contact with nature, when they get involved with their creative side are too many to count. So, if you’re feeling anxious or stressed, try gardening. Roll-up your sleeves and go out in your garden or terrace, dig your hands in the dirt and start relaxing.

Content Editor Sofia Simeonidou