Whether you struggle with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues or are just looking for a fun way to spend some time after work, mentally growing your own indoor garden can be a great way to relieve stress and boost your mood. Not only is having access to healthy food and fresh fruits and vegetables vitally important, but also being able to grow your own produce is a great way to improve your mental health. Imagine stepping outside into the fresh air and breathing in the beautiful fragrance of lavender flowers. Now imagine yourself doing this after a long day at work — it’s no wonder that gardening can make people so happy! There are countless ways indoor gardening can help improve mental health, providing both a physical and spiritual benefit. Indoor plants are beneficial for a variety of reasons: you get fresh food on demand instead of having to cook or sit at the grocery shop every day; you learn about plants, so you understand them better; your hands get exercise through pruning and watering; and since growing food is never boring (it’s always messy), it provides a fun distraction from other concerns. Growing plants in your own home provides a sense of self-sufficiency, helps with anxiety and depression, and is satisfying for many people as well. Take care of your mental health today by adding this relaxing hobby to your life. Growing indoor plants can help you relax, relieve stress and change your mindset. One of the most important ways to improve your mental health is by improving your environment. By starting a garden, you’re optimizing the positive benefits that nature provides — not only through the contentment you feel when making something of yourself and doing something productive, but also by having a healthier overall sense of well-being. Not only does being surrounded by nature and seeing plants can help you relax, but growing your own plants also improves mental health in and of itself.
Indoor gardening is becoming more common, because it provides all the benefits of being outdoors while providing more sensory stimulation and ensuring your plants continue growing. The physical aspect of maintaining an indoor garden is good for your bodily health because it provides increased exercise, but it’s also been shown to release mood-boosting chemicals like serotonin and dopamine in your brain. One study even found that working with potting soil also helps lift moods because of a certain bacterium that triggers the release of serotonin. Gardening can release stress hormones, positively impact sleep quality and quality, boost mood via contact with nature, help weight management through decreased calorie intake from healthier foods and increasing physical activity, reduce feelings of isolation by connecting to nature in a personal way.
Gardening provides many benefits to the mind. Research shows that gardening may help maintain cognitive function in older adults and others who have sustained a brain injury, stroke, or are at risk for one. The physical components of gardening are especially beneficial for older people who may be at risk of dementia as maintaining plants in an indoor or outdoor garden can help delay symptoms. Furthermore, studies show that those recovering from myocardial infarction or stroke have also found that the exercise is physically therapeutic.
Perfectionism can be a huge detriment to your mental well-being, especially if you’re someone with high anxiety and stress levels. It is easy to get caught up in the need to control everything and practice gardening can allow you to let go of that idea. The ability to accept the unexpected will set you apart from others who get overwhelmed easily.
Whether you rent or own your home, having a garden or outdoor space can provide a sense of connection to nature and improve your mood. The best part is that indoor gardening with no backyard is possible and can give you the opportunity to foster connections with nature regardless of physical space limitations.