The physical well-being benefits of gardening

As we head towards spring, many of us feel a deep yearning to reconnect with nature and embrace the physical and mental benefits it provides, including reduced stress and enhanced well-being. The beauty of spring brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation that can be found in the vibrant green spaces around us. It’s important for everyone to nurture and appreciate their home gardens, as each one is a unique ecosystem that deserves our care and attention.  But it is also nice to know that there is the added bonus of wellbeing that gardening brings.

Transformative Benefits of Gardening

A recent survey by STIGA has found that young gardeners in the UK, especially those aged 18 to 24, are excited about spending time outdoors with their families. The enthusiasm for gardening really picks up in the 25 to 34 age group, with 70% expressing their love for it. Interestingly, the highest interest comes from those aged 55 and older, with nearly 80% enjoying this rewarding activity.

It’s no wonder that gardening is beneficial for everyone! It provides a full-body workout, engaging major muscle groups like your arms, legs, and back. Activities such as lifting bags of soil, digging, and carrying tools are great for building strength and endurance. Plus, all the bending, reaching, and stretching involved in planting, weeding, and pruning improves flexibility, helping you stay limber and reducing the risk of injury.

And let’s not forget about your heart! Gardening is a fun way to get your heart pumping. The combination of physical activity and fresh air can boost your cardiovascular fitness, helping lower the risk of heart disease and improve circulation.

You might be surprised to learn just how many calories gardening can burn. For example, spending an hour on vigorous gardening tasks—like digging, raking, or mowing—can help you burn between 250 and 400 calories, depending on your weight and how intense the work is.

Gardening also helps with balance and coordination. Navigating uneven ground, climbing ladders to prune trees, and reaching for those high branches are all activities that can enhance your stability and coordination, which are important for everyday life and preventing injuries.

Lastly, those intricate gardening tasks—like planting seeds, pruning, and arranging flowers—can improve your manual dexterity and fine motor skills, making everyday activities smoother and easier.

So, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, there’s so much to enjoy and gain from spending time in the garden!

Looking after your very own patch of green!

You may have heard the saying, ‘A tidy house equals a tidy mind’. This idea resonates deeply because research has shown how a clean, organised environment contributes significantly to our mental health and overall well-being. This principle applies to home gardens too! 

Battery power is good for you and the environment

Gardening is now more of a pleasure than ever before, the concept of it being hard and too time-consuming has gone. Ultimately, according to experts, lawn care and gardening can lead to enhanced well-being. Indeed, growing evidence points to the multiple benefits related to connection to nature and place attachment, attention restoration, reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood, and increased personal gratification

Mow, mow… it’s good for your mood!

Engaging in activities like mowing can really benefit us—not just because they burn calories, but also because they release endorphins, our body’s natural mood enhancers. Plus, the soothing scent of freshly cut grass can be a wonderful stress reliever. If you’re looking for helpful tools, many of the STIGA battery mowers, use interchangeable batteries that work seamlessly with other hand-held tools such as the 3 Series, making your gardening experience easier and more enjoyable.

Many battery-powered hand tools provide an efficient way to care for grass, hedges, flower beds, bushes, and trees. Battery pruners are now lightweight with a design that allows for easy manoeuvrability, making them comfortable to use for extended periods, especially for those who struggle to use traditional pruners, due to arthritis or other issues. Designed specifically for fast and accurate cuts, these modern tools are ideal for a great variety of light pruning tasks, such as trimming trees and shrubs.

So welcome the wellness-boosting garden jobs this year…the benefits are twofold!

All STIGA products can be found on the website: www.stiga.com/uk/

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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommnedations in these articles.

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