How To Use Your Backyard To Relieve Stress

How To Use Your Backyard To Relieve Stress

Growing a garden from seed can be a relaxing hobby. Whether you have a tiny patio to spruce up or an expansive yard to tend, the act of turning your own piece of nature into a sanctuary can be therapeutic in and of itself, and the garden you create can bring you even more serenity. If you’re feeling stressed, read on to find out how to use your backyard to feel better. 

• You’ll Be Mindful

A garden is a sensory extravaganza of lush foliage, fragrant blossoms, and singing birds. Make a conscious decision to take it all in. Instead of thinking about the work you’ll have to do tomorrow that’s causing you to worry, focus on what is happening right now, what is in front of you, and what is at your fingertips. You are engaging in mindfulness practice, which is a tried-and-true method of lowering stress, by immersing yourself totally in the present experience.

• You’ll Get Vitamin D

The simple act of going outside into the sun can have a remarkably positive effect on your mood and stress levels. This may be one reason why some people experience seasonal affective disorder in the winter when there is less sunlight. It’s healthy to spend time outside in the sun because of the vitamin D it produces and the clean air it brings. A good way to go out and grab some of this is to work on your backyard. Plus, even if the weather isn’t so great, you can make use of a pergola or patio with outdoor shade blinds and still get some fresh air. 

• You’ll Get Physically Healthy

Gardening can be quite the physical challenge, what with all the squatting, walking, stretching, and lifting of large bags of mulch and dirt. Daily upkeep tasks like weeding and raking can burn up to 300 calories each hour. Gardening is an excellent way to get in shape and burn off some calories, plus it improves your dexterity, strength, and endurance. Diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are much less common in physically active people. Gardening has been shown to reduce the incidence of dementia by 36 percent, according to one study. 

While this is clearly great for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health too. If you’re body feels good, you’ll be less stressed. 

• You’ll Be In Touch With Nature 

Connecting with the natural world and spending time outside can help you forget about your troubles for a while. Since most of us spend so much time indoors (e.g., at work, in front of the TV), many of us long to be in nature but are unable to do so. If you long for a connection with nature but don’t have time to go camping or hiking every day, keeping a small patch of it outside your back door can help.

• You’ll Boost Your Immune System 

Who knew that getting dirty would actually be good for your health? Consistent contact with beneficial soil bacteria has been found to improve immunity, decrease the likelihood of developing inflammatory diseases, and, yes, alleviate stress.

Contributed Article.