Green Fingers, Great Health!

When I bought my first house, I had no idea I would like this activity so much, in fact it was the thing I was least looking forward to. But now it is actually a pleasure to do!

No, sadly I am not talking about washing up, this is still a task that I would rather avoid and I do my very best to do so, much to Toms frustration! I’m actually talking about gardening!!

This week we are focusing our attention on gardening because it is not only great for our body, it is also great for our soul. I understand not everyone has access to a garden, which is why I will be talking about the benefits of plants in general and taking time to connect with nature, whether it is in your own garden or in your local park.

We chose this topic to focus on as we know many of you enjoy spending time outside, whether it be in your garden or out enjoying your local open spaces. How we spend our free time has an impact on our overall health and on the health of our spine. As I’m sure you can imagine, if you are a keen gardener and spend most of your days hunched over digging, it is likely you are going to feel some tension in your lower back and neck the following day!

So here are some Top Tips to keep in mind when you are next outside:

Keep your body moving:

• It can be very tempting to stay in the same position for long periods of time because you have a task that needs to get done outside. But this can create additional stress through areas of your spine and muscles, which may lead to discomfort and long term issues. Stand up and move around every 20 minutes. Try marching on the spot. This will reset your body and help to reduce those aches and pains the next day and long term.

Use both sides:

• If you are carrying out repetitive movements such as lifting and moving items, try to lift and move from both sides of your body. Repetitive movements, especially picking things up from the ground and turning, can put additional pressure through your spinal joints and may lead to injury. By taking your time and lifting from both sides, engaging your glute (buttocks) and core muscles, whilst bending your knees, will help to distribute the load, taking care of you and your spine long term.

Stay hydrated:

• Simple but easy to forget when outside. Keeping a water bottle close so you can sip away is a great thing to do. This is essential for the health of your body.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help:

• Sometimes it can be tempting to take the task on yourself and lift that heavy item. But take a moment to pause, is it wise to try and lift it or would it be better to ask a friend or family member to help? A moment of determination can lead to weeks of discomfort, it is OK to ask for help.

Not only is gardening and being outside great for us physically, it is also great for us mentally. I don’t know about you, but if I’m feeling lethargic or I’m not in the most positive of moods and I force myself to go outside, after a short time I notice my mood improves and I feel like a different person!

This is because movement and exercise helps our body produce the hormones dopamine and serotonin, which are our ‘happy hormones’. These hormones help to reduce stress, anxiety and improve moods. Being outside also allows us to have a break from technology which can often over stimulate our brain and causes our stress hormone cortisol to take over. Taking time out from screens for example, helps to calm your body and mind.

Here are some additional reasons why gardening and being outside is great for your mental health:

Creating purpose:

• Taking care of plants, even if it is a house plant is an important task. If they are not nurtured with water and adequate light they will start to wilt and potentially die. Taking care of plants creates a sense of satisfaction and nurturing.

Creating a moment to focus outwards:

• Life can be stressful and can throw unexpected events at us which can consume our attention and create worry. Allowing yourself a little bit of time to re-pot a plant or mow the lawn takes your attention away from this, and allows you to focus on something positive. It won’t necessarily solve your problem, but it will allow you breathing space to process it and manage it better going forward.

Be present:

• Often our attention can be focused on the past or the future. Taking time to spend outside allows you to focus on the now. When you are next outside, take a moment to pause and let your senses take over. What do you smell, hear, touch and see?

Connect with nature:

• With modern technology advancing by the day, it is taking us further away from our natural beginnings. Taking a moment to ‘earth’ yourself, for example taking your gloves off and putting your hands in soil whilst re-potting plants, or taking a moment to stand on the grass barefoot has been suggested to be great for our body and mind.

I know many of you love to garden, so if you have some top tips that you have found to help you over the years I would love to hear! Also what projects are you working on at the moment?

If you are not a gardener or are worried to buy house plants because you had some in the past and it wasn’t a success, I will leave you with this:

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.” Janet Kilburn Phillips

Happy Wednesday, have fun with it and I hope you have an amazing week!

With love,
Sarah