THE BENEFITS OF GARDENING IN MIDLIFE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL
Many people begin to enjoy gardening in midlife. You’re children are young adults by now & although they still require your time you’re often not quite as rushed off your feet as you were filling every minute with your kids activities. So, at this stage we’re often looking for some activities for us and, if you’re lucky enough to have any kind of outdoor space, big or small, it’s nice to make it look & feel good.
As Spring starts to appear, the
nights get lighter giving us more opportunity to get out into the fresh air and
enjoy the outdoors. The temperature is increasing and getting a daily dose of
Vitamin D is vital for our health & wellbeing.
The mental benefits of gardening are
countless, spending time outdoors in nature immediately helps with well-being and
is proven to improve mood. As the seedlings start to sprout & flowers begin
to bloom it gives you a sense of achievement & gives you an anticipation of
what else will be growing day by day. It can also create a feeling of
mindfulness & calm away from the stresses of day-to-day life.
When the weather begins to improve
you can open the doors to your garden which helps to open up the house and
bring the outdoors in. Everything feels more positive when the weather is
better, people smile more, and tense shoulders somehow relax. Gardening engages all the senses and gives you
a period of escapism each day.
Activities like digging, raking &
mowing are all calorie burners and can help you achieve around 2 hours of
aerobic exercise per week. Some gardening activities can help keep your body
flexible and build muscle strength.
Social Benefits
One of the first things we experience
on one of the first sunny days of the year is the smell of BBQ food cooking from
most houses in your street! Who doesn’t love a bbq? It’s a fabulous opportunity
for a fun family meal either with just your household members or to invite
extended family or friends along for a fun afternoon. Let’s face it, the minute
we Brits see even one ray of sunshine we act like it’s the Mediterranean!!!!! Add
a home-measured cocktail or glass of fizz and you’re on a winner!!!
Comments
Post a Comment