As well as this week celebrating the Chelsea Flower Show, it is also Mental Health Awareness Week.
Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
The benefits of gardening and nature on mental health are well documented but why do they improve our mood or make us feel better after some time immersed in them?
Gardens and nature are relaxing. They take us away from the digital world and away from our stressful situations. When we are actively engaged by either looking for wildlife or getting busy in the garden, we are focused on that rather than our worries. Time passes as we can get into “flow” while being present in the moment so we forget your troubles for a while.
Green spaces de-stress us by offering a sense of space and freedom as well as filling our senses with living nature: the wind on our face, the sounds of the leaves, the beauty of the landscape/ the plant. Natural environments can actually lower our blood pressure and stress hormones within the body subconsciously creating a sense of calm.
In the garden, having living plants to care for gives us a sense of worth and purpose. As they flourish through our care, we can feel a sense of progress and achievement. Gardening to benefit wildlife just adds to the feel-good factor by providing valuable habitat or food sources for the creatures in our gardens. They need all the help they can get.
Learning new things and developing knowledge gives us a boost too. Discovering or wanting to find out more about life in the garden or nature can be both fascinating and stimulating; we can literally find ourselves in absolute awe at the natural world.
Sunshine improves our mood and provides essential vitamin D.
Walking outdoors and gardening involve physical activity which is great for both mind and body - and if you’re getting really grubby out there, boy does that shower feel good at the end of the day!
It’s a good time during this week in particular, to take-note of how being the garden or close to nature makes us feel good.
There is more from the RSPB about how to be happier and healthier with nature, human health and nature and forest bathing plus, more on gardening for well-being from the RHS.