When you suffer from stress or depression, gardening or taking care of indoor houseplants can improve your mood or concentration. Working, walking, or spending time in a garden relieves stress and improves concentration. Gardening is therapeutic and can improve your physical and mental health at home.
Reduce Stress and Improves Concentration
Taking care of a garden or houseplants daily gives you a routine and something to concentrate on. They keep you interested in doing something positive and improving concentration. Choosing plants that are native to your region will make it easier to grow and maintain them outdoors or indoors. 92% of homeowners add native plants to their gardens. Caring for plants promotes mindfulness and you must perform certain tasks to keep them healthy. Another benefit is if you grow vegetables, fruits, or herbs you have healthy food to include in your diet.
Relieve Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
Working in a garden and caring for plants promotes moderate exercise that helps improve your mood and allows you to relax. Plants in gardens or your home can provide beauty and improve the ambiance of your environment. 46.4% of all Americans will develop a mental health disorder at some point. Gardening or working with plants can help them cope with symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and fears often associated with mental health disorders. Weeding, trimming, watering, and planting are tasks that require concentration and mindfulness and can contribute to an uptick in your mental well-being.
Improve Performance In School or Work
Working with plants at school or home gives people responsibility. This can be younger children, high school, or college students. Working with plants teaches children the responsibility to care for something and they see the results of their efforts. Gardening or taking care of plants at work can relieve stress and provide a relaxing, calm atmosphere. It can be a group activity to promote cooperation among employees. As an outside activity at school or work, it can promote a feeling of accomplishment for students or workers.
Promotes Creativity
Working with plants can allow you to access your creativity. You can make flower arrangements or grow plants that enhance the interior of your home. Drawing flowers or plants might be another hobby you can develop when you have a garden or grow plants indoors. They can connect you to others when you entertain or work in a garden with others. They may help with other creative projects by enhancing participation and learning.
Control Symptoms of Serious Mental Disorders
Gardening therapy has been used to help people with mental illness control symptoms and recover from illness. Those with PTSD were better able to control symptoms and reduce their negative effects. Children with ADHD and adults found working with plants improved their concentration and mood. This is important in the recovery from mental illness. Half of all people show signs of mental illness before 14 years old. If you are someone who lives with mental illness, having hobbies and coping mechanisms to control symptoms are especially important. Gardening and working with plants have been therapeutic for those with mental health disorders.
Improve Your Health
Plants improve the quality of the air indoors and outdoors. They promote exercise that improves range of motion, and mobility, and eases pain. They can promote a sense of community with fellow plant lovers or gardeners at home. You will be getting outdoors in nature and getting exercise that will improve your mood and help promote good health. When you grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs, you will be able to use them in recipes and contribute to a healthy diet.
These are ways that working with plants can improve your mental and physical health. Gardening and working with plants at home will improve your daily routine. Try out your green thumb today!
