The numbers suffering from stress in the Western world have increased enormously in recent years. The health issues arising from this increase are significant. There are countless books and articles on how to reduce stress and how to relax. Stress relief games have been invented and there are even computer games to reduce stress which sounds like a contradiction in terms to me! However you can't beat tried and tested techniques. Many people swear by yoga to reduce stress but if that's not your cup of tea, why not try gardening? If you are stressed, depressed or anxious then gardening could be just what you need. Many studies show that gardening improves your mental health as well as your physical health.
It has been shown that gardening fights stress better than other leisure activities which just involve relaxation. There is a theory that we engage with nature using a different part of the brain. In nature 'directed attention' is not needed as there is very little information to be sorted. The higher cognitive areas of the brain can rest whereas an older part of the brain which deals with 'soft fascination' is stimulated. It is the higher cognitive areas that feel stress and therefore when these are rested, stress is reduced. Whatever the reason, gardens are restorative environments in which attention fatigue caused by modern life can be reversed. It has been shown that even a view of a garden can help reduce stress and speed up recuperation times in hospital. Local councils are recognising these health promoting benefits, as shown by their increasing in investments in parks and other green areas.
If you haven't got a garden of your own there are many community gardens where you can volunteer or even have your own area to plant and tend. Allotments may be harder to get but it's worth putting your name on the waiting list. There are few things more rewarding than growing your own produce. It can't be compared to buying fruit and vegetables from the supermarket. The whole ambience at an allotment is so different from city life that it feels almost other worldly. Time seems to take on a different dimension as you become immersed in the tasks at hand. It's almost like a slice of life from the past, before life became so hectic, so loaded with information. Just remember to switch off your mobile if you want the real experience!
For older people gardening can be especially good. It will improve hand strength and keeps the joints moving with the types of movement that you might not otherwise do. As well promoting general good health it will improve your sense of well being and all that exercise and fresh air should also relieve insomnia. This probably isn't the main reason so many older people are such keen gardeners. That's probably down to the sheer joy of growing plants and creating beauty. However it's a good enough reason to start and who knows where it will lead you?
When gardening, be careful not to injure yourself, especially if you are unused to exercising. It's a good idea to do warm up exercises before starting. Always take special care of your back and knees as these are the parts of the body most prone to injury. To avoid knee injuries try to avoid kneeling, using a potting bench whenever possible and maybe have some raised beds. If you have to kneel, make sure you use kneeling pads. To avoid back injuries don't lift anything too heavy and when you do lift anything, make sure you use your legs and not your back.
Another benefit of gardening is getting enough sunshine. A lot of people these days are lacking in Vitamin D due to lack of sun on the skin. This alone can make you feel tired and depressed. In the winter months in Britain many people hardly venture outside. You will be surprised how much better the weather is than it looks from the inside! As a professional garden designer I find that once I'm outside I often hardly notice what the weather is like. This is my second career and looking back I wish it had been my first. Working outdoors a lot of the time has made me into a much happier, healthier person. You don't have to go as far as changing career but it has to be one of the most rewarding hobbies there is.
Sally Fonseca has been working as a garden designer in London for 12 years. She is trained in horticulture, garden design, arboriculture and landscaping. She also has a degree in Fine Art from Goldsmiths.
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