The Many Benefits of Gardening

Garden Office-Chispa MagazineFor those people who have access to a garden or an allotment, gardening can be a fantastic hobby to take up. It’s fairly easy to get started thanks to the abundance of advice and information on the internet, plus your local garden center should have all the supplies you need at reasonable prices. Gardening is about much more than simply passing the time and keeping your yard looking nice though. It actually has a whole wealth of benefits to offer those who give it a try. Plus, these days it’s not only for older folks – many younger people are also enjoying the activity, even if it’s only on an apartment balcony. With that in mind, here are just a few of the many reasons why you should consider taking up gardening.

It keeps you physically fit.

Gardening can be quite physically demanding work, especially if you have a large yard to look after. Whether it’s lugging around heavy watering cans or digging up tough soil, you’re sure to burn a good number of calories. Just be sure not to push yourself too hard, and to drink plenty of water when gardening in the sun. Of course, there are ways you can make the job easier, for example, by investing in a sprinkler or a riding mower, so don’t let this intimidate you! You can make gardening as strenuous or as light as you want to. Either way, being out in the fresh air and moving around can do wonders for your physical fitness. This in turn is great for your overall physical health, lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of developing a range of health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

It’s great for your mental health.

What’s wonderful about gardening is that it’s not only your physical health that benefits, it’s your mental health, too. Getting your hands in the earth and growing plants have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety as well as symptoms of depression, helping to boost your mood and generally make you happier overall. It can even help to improve your sleep thanks to the exposure to sunlight and physical activity it involves. Spending time in nature, whether gardening or just walking in the forest, can also make us more productive, focused and creative. Research has even suggested that gardening can help prevent cognitive decline as we age, so there truly is no reason not to give it a try!

You can connect with the world around you.

One of the more unique benefits of taking up gardening is that it enables you to connect more deeply with nature and the world around you. This is especially true if you grow your own vegetables – which can also be an effective way to make your diet more healthy, and give you and your children a greater appreciation for where our food comes from.

In addition, community spaces and allotments where you garden with others in your neighborhood can be a great way to meet people and make new friends.

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Mia Guerra

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine
Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.