When we think about mindful gardening, it just makes sense, you know? We know that being outside in nature can improve our mental health in many ways. So incorporating the art of mindfulness into our daily gardening activities will only help to enhance our mood further.
Being mindful is the act of slowing down and taking the time to really take in our surroundings. When we are being mindful, we are living in the now and being at peace with the present moment. Mindful gardening can be a great way to really stay present in the moment and can help us to feel even more connected with the outdoors and nature.
WHAT IS MINDFUL GARDENING?
Do you often find yourself rushing through gardening jobs? Perhaps while you are gardening, you are constantly thinking about the next job or all the other things you could be doing instead? As a busy mum of two, I know how that feels!
All this constant thinking and business in our minds can lead to burn out, heightened stress and even stop us from enjoying the things we used to, like gardening!
Mindful gardening is exactly what it sounds like! There’s no trick, no hidden message. It doesn’t have to complicated. It’s simply the art of slowing down and concentrating on our surroundings. Listening to the birds, feeling the soil in our hands, smelling the roses! Being present in the moment.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINDFUL GARDENING?
There are so many benefits to mindful gardening. Here are a few I have found personally:
- It reduces stress. By staying present in the moment and really taking in our surroundings, our mind is relaxed and calm. This leads to a reduction in stress.
- You will find a new love of gardening! Gardening no longer feels like a chore or hard work, but downtime. And indulgent treat for you body and for your mind.
- You appreciate the smaller things in life. Like the new seedlings you’ve nurtured to life, the birds enjoying your small pond or the feeling of the warm sun on your skin.
- You feel healthier. Healthy mind, healthy body. Your mind will feel more at peace and your body will appreciate the reduction of stress!
- You notice more. You really notice that new rose bush you planted last year that’s just come into bloom. Or that patch of dead grass you fixed in the spring. Or the sound of the bees as they buzz through the foxgloves.
HOW CAN I PRACTICE MINDFUL GARDENING?
Mindful gardening doesn’t have to be unproductive gardening. In fact, since practicing the art of mindful gardening, I have found my garden to be more productive than ever! I take the time to really feel and explore my garden which in turn gives me fresh creativity.
I enjoy the jobs I do and take better care when I complete them. I enjoy jobs that I didn’t enjoy much before, like weeding and mowing the lawn, because I am now taking a slower approach to them. They no longer feel like this awful chore I have to ‘get through’, but instead a chance to slow down and stay in the present moment instead.
Here are some other ways you can enjoy mindful gardening:
- Watch the birds. Really ‘see’ them. We share our world with them and yet most of the time barely give them a second look!
- Listen to the sounds in your garden. The bees, the wind, the trickle of water.
- Feel the soil beneath your finger tips.
- See repetitive jobs such as weeding as an opportunity to stay in the present moment. Switch off your mind, focus on your task and take your time.
- Sit and rest more. Enjoy the space you are creating!
MINDFUL GARDENING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY
In this modern world where being busy is seen as the only way to be productive, it’s not easy to switch off and practice mindful gardening. We see our gardens as hard work and only feel like we have achieved something if we are exhausted and it is significantly improved when we are finished!
So switching to a slower, more mindful approach is not always easy. It takes practice and a bit of a switch of mind frame too. We need to teach ourselves that slowing down is not failing. It can be just as productive as working hard, because we have worked on one of the most important things of all. Ourselves.
Start small. Just take time to feel the soil beneath your hands. Or listen to the birds for a moment. The build it up.
It’s worth it, I promise! Mindful gardening is the best kind of gardening!
Happy gardening!
