I know very little about gardening. I see my neighbours with their impeccable lawns, their beautiful flower/ shrub/ tree arrangements and wonder, how does all that happen?
This past week, my kids and I decided to try and bring some sense and order to our garden. In other words, we wanted to stop being “that house on the street.”
So, armed with spades, hoes, pruning shears, a really big yellow bag of soil, and gardening gloves, we tackled the yard, all five of us. We mowed the grass. Laid out soil and seeded the lawn. Weeded and tidied up the flower beds. Pruned the trees and shrubs. Re-potted our indoor plants.
It was hard work — the garden had been neglected for weeks. But many hands made light work, and working outside together on a bright, sunny morning, surrounded by green, growing things that we had tended left us refreshed and happy.
That night, my kids and I slept deeply, undisturbed and serene. We woke up feeling energetic and restored.
So of course, I did some research.
Spending time in nature — whether it’s hiking, playing in the neighbourhood park, or simply gardening — can yield some impressive benefits:
Reduced risk of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, eating disorders and substance use disorders.
Decreased sense of isolation and loneliness
Decreased risk of chronic illness, including asthma, obesity, diabetes and heart disease
Decreased risk of in-hospital complications in those who are seriously ill
Improved ability to heal from illness, trauma or surgery
Improved immune response to illness
Improved attention span
Improved concentration
Improved sense of well-being
Improved ability to connect with others
Increased compassion and generosity
An increased sense of meaning and purpose in life
Even two hours a week in nature improves a person’s overall sense of well-being.
My message now: get up and get outside at least once a day every day. Spruce up your workspaces with indoor plants. Use green space photos as screensavers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left us all physically and mentally drained. Connecting with the green spaces in our world can be exactly the solace we need.