Can Therapy In The Garden Help?
Let’s discover how therapy in the garden (gardening!) can help us as part of symptom management during, and after menopause.
6 Benefits of Gardening Therapy for Menopausal Women
Menopausal women suffer from symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and mood changes. But the answer to managing those symptoms might just be spending some time with plants.
Anyone with a green thumb will tell you that horticultural therapy vastly improved their quality of life. You might not have been convinced of its value in the past, but the health claims may be more accurate than you think.
Read on to learn about the health benefits of gardening. It might just become your new favorite hobby as you go through the menopausal transition.
Therapy In The Garden:
Enhances social interaction.
Gardening helps you interact with people who share your love for plants. After all, no (wo)man is an island. Your well-being deteriorates if you aren’t connected with others.
Having a community that you have something in common with promotes a sense of belongingness and safety. Just like dealing with menopause, you don’t have to do anything alone.
Exposes you to nature.
Studies have shown that being exposed to greenery helps relieve stress, anxiety, and even depression.
This may be a little hard to come by if you’re in a city, but you can create your very own piece of Eden through gardening. Even indoor plants can help break the monotony of city skyscrapers.
Boosts your self-esteem.
Growing your own produce gives you a sense of accomplishment. Engaging in productive activities also gives you a bigger purpose that goes beyond your work and personal life.
Even the simple act of repotting your plant can help you feel fulfilled, especially when you’re new to gardening. Every moment becomes a discovery and a win.
Slows down mental decay.
Did you know that one of the symptoms of menopause is brain fog — the inability to focus and remember something?
Gardening can help with that because it involves challenging activities that require your complete focus, like reviving dying plants and testing your soil to ensure your plants grow. It’s so much more than simply watering your plants and scheduling their time around the sun.
But it goes the other way, too. Many people find gardening extremely relaxing, providing a much-needed pause from their responsibilities and helping them destress.
Encourages you to eat healthily.
If you grow your own produce, you’re probably aware of the benefits of healthy eating. Plus, you’d already have organic and healthy foods in your backyard.
And with your firsthand knowledge of all the things you used to grow your fruits and veggies, you’ll become your most avid customer!
Helps manage your weight.
If you feel like you’ve put on a few pounds due to your metabolism slowing down, you’ll be glad to know that gardening counts as physical activity.
Maintaining your weight despite your menopausal symptoms can also boost your mood and confidence.
You’re not helpless against menopause. You can do something to make your menopausal experience better. And given the physical and mental health benefits associated with gardening, perhaps it’s time to give it a try.
If you want to learn more, check out our free menopause training to help you win against the worst of menopause.
Read about the psychological symptoms of menopause:
