Today I share with you how I created my garden, how it helped me through the though times and why I think you should start gardening to. 

Gardening it's not always easy, you have to get your hands dirty and it can be hard work, but it's worth it. It puts you into a relaxed state, it pushes you to by mindful and focuses your attention at the present. It helps you clear your mind and look at your problems diffrently. 

I started gardening a few years ago, after I had a miscarriage. I already had two beautiful kids, for whom I am deeply grateful for, but I always wanted to have three children. My childhood friend had a big familly - 3 brothers and a sister, and I wanted to have one as well. After my miscarriage I wanted to focus on something that could get my mind off of that and gardening helped me get through these though times. I studdied landscape architecture, that's why planning a garden felt natural for me. I started with digging up flowers from my mother's and aunt's garden, take cuttings and propagate them and weeding my backyard. After spending time in nature I started to feel better, started to come to therms with my loss and I created a beautiful garden with lots and lots of flowers.

Gardening gave me a sense of accomplishement. Watching tiny seeds grow and produce flowers and fruit, brought happiness while also creating healthy food for my family, even if it's just a few pieces of lettuce, cI felt the sense of fulfilment.

 

 

Stress Reduction

Natural Antidepresant

While you're having contact with the beneficial soil bacteria and spend your time in nature your serotonin levels increase - instantly putting you in a good mood. Seratonin is the happiness chemical due to its crucial role in mood regulation. 

Lower Cortisol Levels

Research proves that gardening can lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is called stress hormone because it levels naturally rise during stressful situations. Lowering it's levels helps you feel more relaxed and improves your mood.

 

Contact with Nature

That's very important for your well being. Research indicates that spending two hours in nature can significantly increase your mental and physical health. Even the quality of your sleep is much better because natural light helps regulate the internal clock of your body. Contact with natural enviroment can give you sense of calmness, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. 

Mindfulness

While you garden you have to focus on the exact task you are doing at the moment - take weeding for example, you live in that moment, your mind has the opportunity to slow down, take your thoughts off the stressful day you've had or your sad memories. You simply become more relaxed, as your brain begins to calm down you feel less worried.

 

The benefits

Improve mood

That's certain - gardening literaly helps you feel better. You feel happier and feel the satisfaction from every task - e.g. cutting the edges of the border - one of my favourite things to do in the garden - this instantly improves the look of the garden. Other than that, being outdoors - you're exposed to sunlight increases your Vitamin D levels which is very important for your immune system. Sunlight and fresh air simulate the production of endorphines - feel-good chemicals, they function as pain relievers and mood boosters for your body. 

Boost  Your Self Esteem

Nothing makes you feel better than finishing your task. Nurturing plants from tiny seeds - helping them become beautiful flowers or cucumbers is so satisfying! Tasks like that provide a sense of achievement and purpose - this boosts your self esteem. You literally feel good about yourself, you feel that you accomplished something and you can be proud of it. For me, my garden was the one place that I felt in control - place without the chaos and mess, rest from the racket that comes with having little kids. 

Cognitive Enhancement

Planning and solving problems in your garden - why is that plant not growing? Your peonies don't bloom, why?  How do I  protect my vegetables from the pests and diseases? Solving these problems, using your brain and logical thinking keeps your mind sharp. 

Physical Activity 

Of course gardening is the physical activity- a moderate one but still - even a small Spring walk through your garden, being on the look out for tiny little tulip tips - it's all good for you. Some studies are finding that even a 20 minute contact with nature per day is good for your health - and that's just enough time to water your plants or pot something up. 

I am so proud of my Roses and Peonies this year, they're looked especially beautiful this June, but I had to wait for a few years for them to grow. 

As my Aunt always said " If you want to be happy for a moment - get married, If you want to be happy for a lifetime - start a garden."

And she has a wonderful garden nurtured for years. 

I hope that I inspired you to start your own garden, and if not start small -  buy one plant for your home. Start feeling better and be more healthy, one step at the time. 

Much Love,

Ana