Effects Of Gardening On Mental Health – Ecotherapy has several amazing benefits for moms. In our modern, industrialized world, we spend much more time indoors than outside in nature, and this is starting to have a tangible effect on our mental health.
Ecotherapy is a broad term used to describe all types of outdoor activities that have health benefits. This can include anything from the simple act of sitting outdoors in the sun to hiking and climbing. With benefits for the whole family, it’s a great way for moms to spend time with their kids, but also to take care of themselves.
Effects Of Gardening On Mental Health
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Proven Benefits Of Growing A Garden
The obvious advantage of going outdoors is simply enjoying the fresh air. Breathing fresh air, as opposed to circulated, stale air in a closed space, is a great way to clear the mind and body. A little fresh air every day can help relieve headaches and congestion, and is great for our overall health. For those who live in overcrowded, busy cities, it pays to go to the countryside every now and then for a decent dose of fresh air. It’s something too many of us take for granted.
The warm sun is another fundamental element of ecotherapy. Sun exposure can replenish vitamin D levels, which is extremely important for maintaining serotonin levels and avoiding seasonal affective disorder. Vitamin D is also important in calcium absorption, can lower blood pressure and even help with weight loss! But be sure to protect your skin while outside, the sun’s power is great and dangerous.
Ecotherapy works because being outdoors inspires us to explore, run and play. When it’s a nice day outside, we don’t want to waste it staying inside watching TV. Just an hour of walking outside every day is enough to improve our mood and help us live healthier. Often the elements of nature can encourage us to more extreme forms of physical activity, such as hiking, cycling, swimming or hiking. The opportunities to get our heart rate up and sweat in the great outdoors are endless.
It is rare to find a form of therapy that can stimulate all of our senses at once. But ecotherapy does just that. When we are in nature, we feel the warmth of the sun, the gentle tickling of green grass on our toes or the gentle breeze on our skin. We smell fresh air, flowers, earth and tree wood. We hear the birds singing, the leaves rustling in the wind and the soft gurgling of the water. We see flowers and landscapes in various colors and shapes. We taste sweet berries or fruit freshly picked from the trees. Simply being outdoors is a feast for the senses.
Benefits Gardening And Yardwork Have On Your Mental Health
Ecotherapy also includes spending time with animals and experiencing the benefits of some of nature’s greatest gifts. Spending time with animals can help reduce stress levels and improve mood. You don’t have to own a pet to benefit from pet therapy. Visiting a farm, petting zoo, animal shelter, or even some simple bird watching, as Garrett of Birding Hub advises, is like an instant mood lifter without any of the responsibility of raising your own pet.
Talking about feelings can be difficult for many people. Especially for mothers struggling with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder such as postpartum depression. Many people find it comforting to talk while going for a walk outside. Distracting sights and sounds can relieve tension or uncomfortable silence. The physical act of walking the talk can actually encourage the mind to open up even more, as it is now being asked to multitask and therefore feels less inhibited. Therefore, the next time you have something important to discuss with someone – try inviting them for a walk in the park.
Contrary to popular belief, dirt is not dirty. Clean, rich soil from the earth is actually very good for you! By digging your bare hands (or feet) into the dirt, you can absorb good bacteria known as Mycobacterium vaccae which are natural anti-depressants and can improve your overall health and immune system. Ecotherapy means ditching the gardening gloves and flip flops and becoming one with the dirt!
Since you’re already barefoot and ankle-deep in the ground, you might as well plant a garden while you’re at it. Gardening has so many health benefits that it is the most popular form of ecotherapy. In addition to the health benefits you get directly from the soil, tending to your garden is a great way to nurture your maternal instincts. Planting seeds and watching them grow into mature plants will give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Benefits Of Gardening (infographic)
We’d all love to eat farm-fresh fruit and vegetables every day, but the sad fact is that healthier foods are often more expensive at the local grocery store. Instead, grow healthy fruits and vegetables in your own garden. Not only will it be organic, but it will be free! A healthy diet is especially important for moms struggling with perinatal mood or anxiety disorders, as well as for children of all ages. Everyone in the family will be much more inclined to eat food that they have grown themselves.
In addition to healthy fruits and vegetables, you can also grow certain medicinal plants. Lavender, chamomile and valerian are popular, especially for helping with sleep and reducing stress. Peppermint, rosemary, oregano, thyme and basil are great for cooking, but their oils also have several medicinal properties. St. John’s wort, known for its natural anti-depressant properties, can easily be grown in any herb garden. There are so many different plants that you can easily grow and always have on hand when you need them.
Growing your own plants from seedlings is a real confidence booster. In a world where parenting is so complicated and full of different opinions and methods – gardening brings you back to the beginning. Plants don’t need complicated methods – they need soil, water and sunlight to thrive. The ability to produce fruit or flowers from tiny seeds can give you a sense of pride and confidence in yourself.
When you combine all the fresh air, sunshine and physical activity, it adds up to one thing – better sleep! This is true for both moms and babies. Ecotherapy is an excellent treatment for those who suffer from insomnia because it reduces the usual culprits: stress, anxiety and depression. Try taking a nap outdoors, in a hammock or on a blanket in the grass. Between the warm sun, light breeze and birdsong, you will surely feel relaxed. Who needs a white noise machine with “sounds of nature” when you can get a live version in your own backyard?
The 7 Mental Health Benefits Of Gardening
Spending time in nature is incredibly peaceful, but ecotherapy can also be done as a community. Community gardens, walking groups in the park with strollers, or even yoga on the beach are great forms of ecotherapy that can help foster social skills. Once you’ve found an outdoor activity you enjoy doing, reach out and see if others want to join you or if there’s already a like-minded group that gets together regularly. Being outdoors makes you more likely to meet and socialize with others in your community, which is great for your mental health.
Ecotherapy can also help with anger management problems. Try knocking down a hedge when you’re feeling frustrated and full of anger. Kick rocks or punch wood – I promise, they can handle it. Sitting alone in nature is also a great place to find peace. Meditate, even talk out loud to plants, insects, animals and trees. They are great listeners and won’t judge you or give away your secrets. It may sound
silly, but saying something out loud, regardless of who is listening or not, is much different than simply thinking about it.
The main cause of anxiety for many people is the thought of death, illness or harm. Spending time observing nature can help us better appreciate the cycle of life and understand that everything happens for a reason. Old leaves fall from trees to make room for new growth. Plants sprout from a single seed, bear their fruit, grow old and wither. Their fruit grows several new plants and the cycle continues again. We see some plants lost in the neighborhood
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