Being creative in the garden relieves stress.
Relieve Stress by
Gardening
Looking out of the window towards the garden can be a
beautiful site. The same view could
cause a lot of stress, especially if you feel as though you are falling behind
with the maintenance.
If I look at an old image of my garden from a few years back
I look in wonder at how well maintained it is and think that maybe standards
have slipped. I even got that feeling when I saw a photo of the garden BEFORE I
worked on it and it was full of weeds!
It’s the attention to detail that’s lacking in an image and
we only see the overall beauty, not the creeping buttercup taking over the beds
or snails munching the seedlings.
That’s why I think the garden should be a place of
relaxation and a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle, even if it means sitting
next to the wheelie bin, where the dandelions are going to seed.
Linda Wasmer Andrews, who is into optimizing wellness agrees
and also thinks gardening is a great stress buster. Here she gives us a few
pointers to relaxing.
Keep it a Hobby, Not
a Chore.
Just as with golfing or yoga, some people enjoy gardening
and others don’t. Even if you’re in the former group, it’s important to ask
yourself whether you like it a little or a lot, and then plan the size and
maintenance requirements of your garden accordingly. Be realistic about how
much time and energy you have for gardening. Planting a quarter of an acre when
all you really want to do is deadhead a few geraniums may lead to more stress,
not less.
Make friends with
Nature.
A garden is a place where we can slow down and reconnect
with the natural world the way our ancestors did all day, every day. Research
has shown that spending time in nature can help restore your attention, relax
your body, and revive your mood.
Leave your phone
inside.
Don’t let phone calls; texts, emails, and social media
intrude on your gardening time. So many days are filled with multitasking from
dawn to dusk. Make this a time when you have only one thing to do, and immerse
yourself in the experience, not the phone in soil.
Be mindful of the
moment.
A garden offers a feast for the senses: verdant leaves,
aromatic blossoms, chirping birds, squishy earth. Make a deliberate choice to
soak it all up. Be aware of what’s happening right here and now, what’s in
front of your eyes and at the touch of your fingertips. By becoming fully absorbed in the
“moment-to-moment” experience, you’re practicing mindfulness, a proven way of
reducing stress.
Repeat a Garden
Mantra.
There’s this lovely cadence you can get into when weeding.
Believe it or not, it is a form of meditation. The same can be said of digging,
raking, mowing and many other garden activities. With the repetitive movements,
try a repeated positive a mantra. Others combine it with yoga breathing
exercises, “In through the nose, Out through the mouth”. Either strategy can
activate “the parasympathetic nervous system,” the body system that counteracts
the physiological changes brought on by stress.
Cultivate your
Creativity.
Ask yourself... Is your garden wild and woolly, or is it
precise and elegant? Does it use your signature colours? We all need to express
ourselves creatively, and gardening is one way to do that. So get imaginative
with a palette of plants. Research shows that engaging in a creative pastime
can be an effective stress control strategy.
Connect with
Neighbours.
Although many people savour peace and quiet while gardening,
others appreciate company. If you’re working in your front garden, it’s natural
for neighbours to wave hello or stop and chat about the weather. It’s an
opportunity for social connectedness. For apartment and flat dwellers, tilling
a plot at the local community garden can serve a similar purpose.
Welcome Wildlife
Visitors.
You can invite birds, butterflies, and other wildlife
visitors into your garden as well. If you provide a safe and friendly habitat
for the birds, insects, and other animals you want to attract. You may be
surprised to hear that encouraging more wildlife can keep the equilibrium with
those creatures considered pests, and their presence adds another dimension to
help captivate your attention and enrich your experience.
Revel in a job well
done.
Gardening gives you a sense of accomplishment, It can lead
to great satisfaction when those first blooms of spring emerge from the autumn
planted bulbs you weren’t sure would grow or when the first ripe tomato is
ready for picking. Share the love, take photos. The beauty you add to your home
or the fresh food you put on your table is tangible proof of time well spent.
Remember, when you are outside gardening you are getting
plenty of fresh air and exercise and you don’t see what a mess the house is in!
