Looking for a new hobby? Try gardening! A soothing and healthy outdoor activity, gardening offers a host of benefits:
Sunlight provides vitamin D, which lowers your risk for numerous diseases: osteoporosis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and a variety of cancers, just to name a few.
Gardening keeps you active. New health guidelines recommend everyone makes time for at least 150 minutes of activity each week. Gardening counts toward that goal!
Manual tasks cure your “attention fatigue.” When you’re feeling busy or overwhelmed, a gardening break can improve your focus and accuracy. Because the manual tasks of gardening (digging, planting, weeding, etc.) require e ort but not active attention, they can nudge you into a “zone,” which quiets anxious thoughts and brings a sense of calm.
Grow nutritious food, eat nutritious food. Plant and grow healthy foods you enjoy! This will help you continue gardening and motivate you to cook quality meals with your own home-grown ingredients.
Make a few new friends while you’re at it.
Most towns and cities have a local gardening club — usually more than one. If you need help getting started, are looking to try something di erent or just want some friendly advice, join a club and have some fun with people who share a similar interest.
Gallagher Wellbeing Newsletter, reprinted with permission