Can gardening help fight your mental blues?

Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown has brought stress and anxiety for many, but gardening can go a long in way keeping your mental health in check. There seems to be a new flourishing association between gardening more frequently and improvements in depression and mental well-being.

The study from Britain’s Royal Horticulture Society surveyed more than 6,000 people, and results indicate that those who garden every day have well-being scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all. It was also observed that frequent gardening resulted in greater physical activity, which makes it good for both your body and mind.

Spending time with plants and the entire process of cultivating and caring has several benefits. Researchers have found that Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacteria that lives in dirt, has proven to increase serotonin levels simply by inhaling the smell of fresh soil. A rise in serotonin can not only help ease the stress but will also help you relax and calm down.

Also Read: Talking about mental health & mental illness

Not everyone may have an extensive garden, but even a small corner with flower pots can leave you with an equal amount of satisfaction and happiness. Times may be uncertain but gardening might help you take a break from everyday stress and panic.