While stay-at-home measures have been effective in curbing the transmission of the new coronavirus, limiting physical interactions with the outside world has led to a new scourge.
Several months into the pandemic, about 54% of Canadians are starting to feel lonely or isolated. Feelings of isolation are found to be more common in people aged 18 to 34. Psychologists say these feelings are entirely normal in such a challenging time.
Acknowledging unpleasant feelings is key to overcoming them. Engaging in physical activities is also a great way to manage loneliness and anxiety. One low-impact activity you can explore without putting yourself at risk of infection is home gardening.
What Are the Benefits of Gardening to Your Well-Being?
Planting seedlings, watering plants, pulling out weeds, and cultivating the soil all make for an instant therapy for your weary senses. People usually turn to gardening to beautify their properties or for the sake of growing a variety of plants. However, what many people don’t realize is that it can also be a relaxing, stress-busting hobby. The following are the benefits of gardening during the pandemic:
Reduces stress and anxiety
Anyone who’s into gardening can agree that the activity relieves stress and anxiety. Studies suggest that people who are regularly exposed to natural environments have a lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as more relaxed muscles.
It promotes physical activity
Tending your yard is a physical activity in itself. It may not make you sweat buckets as an aerobic workout would, but it will engage your arms, hands, feet, and joints. Plus, being outside exposes you to the sun and fresh air which is great for your mind and body.
Gardening provides a sense of control and productivity
For many, the pandemic has taken away their sense of control over their present and future. It has shelved our plans and disrupted our goals. One way to channel your time, energy, and creativity is through gardening.
When you busy yourself in your yard, you get this sense of control back. It lets you harness your planning skills as you decide on the size of your gardening project and focus on growing your plants to full maturity.
Productivity looks different to every person. Completing a garden project and seeing your herbs and flowers bloom will lend you that feeling of productivity. This positive feeling will help you cope with social isolation.
Gardening can enhance self-esteem
Low self-esteem is one of the drivers of mental health issues like depression. Home gardening during the pandemic can help address this. Being able to grow a seed into a mature plant, or seeing your plant bear flowers can foster a sense of accomplishment.
This rewarding feeling can improve your self-confidence, making you want to grow more plants.
It creates an opportunity to bond with the family
Home gardening isn’t only beneficial to your inner well-being, but it’s also an avenue for strengthening your ties with others. It’s a great activity to engage, socialize, and spend time with the whole family.
Tending to a garden is a way to introduce little children to plants and teach them the importance of nurturing and protecting the environment.
These are just a few of the ways gardening helps people cope with social isolation. So how can you get started with home gardening? Below are some ideas you can consider.
5 Gardening Activities That Help Overcome Feelings of Isolation
Here are a few ideas:
1.Organize your yard
Ease your way into the activity by first cleaning up and freshening your yard. Your yard certainly needs some maintenance work after winter, as wind and storms may have left behind some mess.
While you’re at it, survey your property and determine which plants, trees, or flowers you need to grow. Also, check your tools and replace the broken ones.
2.Make room for new plants
Consider diversifying your collection, but take great care when selecting plant species. You may need to do your research on plant or flower varieties that grow well in your climate and the type of soil you have.
You might also want to choose between annuals (plants that only grow for a season) and perennials (plants that remain alive for years but only bloom during certain seasons).
Trees and shrubs are also a great addition to your garden if you have a significant amount of space. Shade trees and evergreen trees both add more texture and appeal to your landscape.
3.Grow herbs
Consider starting your own herb garden. Herbs like thyme, basil, chives, and cilantro are easy to grow. You can even grow them in containers and place them in your kitchen window if you’re living in a small apartment.
Herbs are great for indoor gardening, although you still need to factor in their needs. Look for herbs that grow well in the type of climate you have. Consider their water and sunlight requirements.
4.Start a neighbourhood garden
Why not create a community garden and encourage your neighbours to plant a variety of plants and flowers? Through this initiative, you can share the joy of gardening with others, plus your local neighbourhood will enjoy access to different veggies, fruits, and herbs you’ll reap in the future.
This project is also an opportunity to get to know your neighbours better. Remember to practice physical distancing if you want to get started with a communal garden during the pandemic.
5.Improve your landscape
Perhaps it’s time to turn your landscape into a relaxing space. Now is the right time to do it considering you have a lot of time on your hands. Start by redoing your fences, adding more garden ornaments, or planting new shrubs and trees.
There’s plenty of ways to redecorate your landscape. Take your time to plan out the look and feel you want to achieve. Let your creativity run wild when designing that patch of green in your home.
Make sure to create a comfortable and quiet corner where you can sit and unwind. It should be a flat area where you can place a table, some chairs, and an umbrella as a shade from the sun.
Protect your inner well-being during the coronavirus outbreak. Home gardening is one of the greatest outlets you can explore today to boost your mental and emotional health. It has a number of therapeutic benefits that pay off in the long term.
In case you want to plant trees in your Toronto home, Caledon Treeland has you covered. Our family-owned and operated tree farm has a wide array of options you can choose from. Call us now at (905) 880-1828 to discover your options.