Now There’s Proof... Gardening Makes You Happy!

Anytime I have a few spare minutes, I‘m drawn to my garden. I know that I can always find something that needs my attention, but also I find beauty in the tiniest of blooms. After being outside working or poking around a short time, I feel rejuvenated. My garden needs me and I need my garden!

Now there’s scientific proof that the effects of being outdoors and exercising are good for your health. An article in Scientific American magazine sited a research study conducted by scientists at the University of Essex in the UK.

Exercising is already known to make people happier, and so is being outdoors. So the scientists wanted to combine both and study people who exercised outdoors. A group of more than 1200 participants that spanned ten studies took part in the research that included gardening, country walking, and sailing. Those in the study then rated their mood and self-esteem.

With as little as five minutes outdoors, both exercising and walking participants reported significant improvement in both mood and self-esteem. Those participants with mental disorders seemed to have improved the most.

Just five minutes, you say? That’s right. It’s the first study that has actually been able to evaluate the amount of time it takes to “positively” change your attitude when you’re outside!

-Sandi Schmidt

(Next Month....How gardening makes you smarter...)