This post is about gardening for mental health!
Has your mental health struggled lately? Most people won’t admit it but it’s normal.
I don’t think people understand the power of gardening for mental health.
To be honest, I never took the time to know if I was in a good place mentally. Therapy was for people who were depressed.
It wasn’t until my body started to actively shut down that I realized my mental health had been hanging on by a thread.
Ever since then, plants have been my active therapy. Gardening is not a miracle and won’t cure you of sadness but it sure will help.
It’s a gentle reminder that you have everything you need to jumpstart the healing journey if you start at the source with sun and fresh air.
I know it’s the reason why I started gardening and it seriously changed my life.
There is actual science behind it but I wanna share the changes that were most prevalent for me!
10 Amazing Ways Gardening Improves Mental Health
Gardening as a hobby is fun but the holistic health benefits can prove invaluable long-term.
I’m going to bring the facts with science first and then I’ll go over how gardening has helped me personally.
#1 Lowers Stress and Anxiety
Just being immersed in nature lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, which helps your brain function better long-term.
Very few people realize how stressed and burnt out they are because they have been used to operating in survival mode.
For me, taking a career break was a blessing in disguise because plants taught me to be more mindful and to live in the present.
A study from the University of Exeter found that people who spend at least two hours a week in green spaces report significantly lower stress levels.
Of course, not everyone is an outdoors person. Even if you’re not the type to go on a long hike, tending to indoor plants or taking a 15-minute nature walk can have a similar calming effect.
2 Gives You a Break From Screens
I know we spend a lot of time online finding inspiration and ideas from other people and it’s a great way to connect.
The negative side of that is we spend hours staring at blue light, which strains our eyes and messes with our sleep cycles.
Did you know the average person checks their phone more than 96 times per day? If that statistic doesn’t make you pause and blink twice, not sure what will!
Branch out with the resources you use. Go to libraries and community sources near you to find garden ideas in person.
I’m also dedicated to helping you find resources with Plant Meet Pot, but being intentional in person with your time, effort, and energy is important.
Excessive screen use leads to mental exhaustion, making it harder to focus on even simple tasks. Spending time in a garden helps reset your mind by removing digital distractions.
You May Also Like:
3 Boosts Oxygen Levels and Purify Air
Fresh air fuels your brain, helping you think more clearly and feel more energized.
Unlike indoor environments filled with stale, recycled air, gardens provide an abundance of oxygen-producing plants that can enhance cognitive function.
Most houseplants have the benefit of being easy to take care of and are easy on the eyes, but who knew they improve your health?
As a person with asthma, clean indoor air is a must and the perfect excuse to go out and buy more plants.
4 Color Therapy With the Color Pink
While plants serve many different purposes, my favorite thing to do is simply observe them and their different colors.
The lush greens represent life and abundance. A reminder that life surrounds us and I have everything I need to live in my idea of luxury.
And lately, I am super into the color pink to match as a decor aesthetic!
No one can stay mad for too long with the color pink and the colors blend perfectly with each other as a neutral with other colors.
5 Encourage Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment, and gardening is a fantastic way to cultivate this habit.
When you tend to plants, you focus on small details whether it’s the color of leaves, the texture of soil, or the rhythm of your breath as you dig and water your plants.
When I get that racing feeling in my mind or body, I take a break and focus on a small gardening task forces me to slow down and be present.
The rhythmic nature of watering plants or pulling weeds is meditative, helping my mind shift away from worries and into a state of calm clarity.
Studies show that engaging in mindfulness reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression by increasing neural connectivity in the brain (Zeidan et al., 2010).
6 Engages the Senses
The smell of flowers, the feel of soil, the sound of birds, these are all activating multiple senses strengthens brain function.
Our brains rely on sensory stimulation to process information efficiently, and a garden provides a rich environment for this
You might think flowers are your best go-to for fragrant plants. While I think you should always have a fresh flower bouquet in your house, I think the best-smelling plants are herbs!
I’ve found that whenever I need to break out of a mental slump, simply running my hands through basil leaves allows the scent to disperse, and inhaling its scent helps shift my brain into a more focused state.
The combination of touch, smell, and sound makes gardening a truly immersive and mentally refreshing activity.
You May Also Like:
7 Bacteria in Soil
Did you know there is a bacteria found in soil that emits the same effects as serotonin? It’s true!
Soil is filled with bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae that can trigger the production of serotonin.
It’s naturally found in soil. I’ve always enjoyed managing potting soil with my bare hands instead of gloves, so maybe this is why?
The cool dark moist feeling of the soil is just calming and grounding in a way.
8 Increase Knowledge Learning and Science
I’ve always had an interest in science but I don’t think it clicked for me until I started gardening.
Specifically when I made my first compost bin.
Learning about carbon and nitrogen and ecosystems, a compost pile was the science experiment that I always needed.
The chemistry and science behind plants is amazing. My only regret is that I didn’t take the initiative to learn about them sooner.
9 Encourages Gentle Movement
Unlike high-intensity exercise, gardening provides gentle, sustained movement including bending, stretching, or digging, that helps wake up the body without tasks feeling overwhelming.
I often notice that after just a few minutes of tending to my plants, I feel more awake and mentally sharp. A simple walk around my small patio garden in the morning helps me start the day with a clearer mind.
Even light activity, like watering plants or pulling weeds, increases blood flow to the brain, which improves concentration.
Exercise doesn’t have to mean an intense workout session. Small, repetitive movements can be just as beneficial for mental clarity.
10 Exposes You to Sunlight
A deficiency in Vitamin D has been linked to increased symptoms of depression, fatigue, and brain fog.
I used to feel sluggish during the winter months when I wasn’t getting enough sun, but spending even a few minutes outside each morning made a noticeable difference in my energy levels.
Getting sun-kissed while I check on my plants feels like a natural way to recharge both my mind and body.
You May Also Like:
