Putting the Zen Into Your Garden

The Many Benefits of Gardening for Seniors

Gardening at any age provides a much-needed outlet for getting outside and interacting with nature. For the retired population, which is expanding rapidly due to the fact that many baby-boomers are now reaching their mid-60's, it can be difficult to face new emotional and medical challenges. While growing older may bring with it new stressors in our lives, like isolation, fatigue, and loneliness, tending to a garden is a fun way to relieve ourselves of such pressures. Something as simple as caring for your garden can save you from medical visits, as stress is one of the leading causes of trips to the doctor.

No matter if you live in an assisted living facility or on your own, you should seek out a garden in your outdoor space to reap all of its benefits for your mind, body, and spirit. Gardening provides many perks for seniors that can prolong your golden years by promoting sociability, giving you a sense of accomplishment, and connecting you with the great outdoors.


How Gardening Can Help Your Health

As we age, there are many factors that lead to added stress that we need to be mindful of and fight against. Because stress can lead to serious medical issues, such as heart disease and even cancer, it is crucial that we find hobbies like gardening to help ourselves relax. Studies in gardening have shown that the hobby improves both mental health and brain health.

Besides being a stress reliever, gardening is also a good form of light exercise for seniors. Since exercising becomes even more important as we age, gardening is a great habit to develop to ensure that you are getting out into the yard and breaking a sweat while tending to your plants. If the task may seem too strenuous, there are many gardening tools for seniors that can ease some of the more difficult duties.

Save Money, Eat Fresh!

Furthermore, having a garden will also introduce homegrown fruits and vegetables into your pantry, like carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Growing produce at home can help you save money on groceries, especially as fruits and vegetables in the supermarket tend to spike in price based upon season.

By cooking with your own raw fruits and vegetables from your garden, your meals will certainly be healthier and cooking will be a true joy. Eating the freshest ingredients that you grew with your two hands will be rewarding and good for your overall health, and your body will thank you!

It is undeniable that having a garden as a senior will benefit many areas of your life, including your mental and physical health, your sociability, and your happiness. By tending to your plants from the size of a seed to its final product, you will feel free of stress and well accomplished, all in your own backyard.