Gardening and Mental Health

A good day spent outdoors can feel like medicine for the soul. As humans we are naturally drawn to the sound of water on the shore, the chirp of birds, and the feeling of fresh earth on our feet. But what exactly is going on inside our minds and bodies as we try to connect more with nature? Over the next couple months we’ll look at the scientific reasons behind positive changes in physical and mental health experienced when engaging with the natural world, beginning with gardening! 

The movement, sensory engagement and exposure to sunlight that gardening gives supports a vital chemical messenger called serotonin, responsible for mood regulation and promoting feelings of joy and focus. Low serotonin can look like brain fog, irritability, and persistent exhaustion. 

The amygdala is the region in your brain that processes emotions. It often gets coined the “fear-center” of the brain for the way it alerts the brainstem and hypothalamus if any threat is detected. The amygdala will take in sensory information and associate it with either positive or negative outcomes based on previous experiences and use those feelings to influence your decision making. Many anxious and depressive thoughts come from the amygdala, usually working together with the prefrontal cortex, the brain's center for clarity and control. 

Garden chores that involve doing the same repetitive task over and over like planting, pruning, weeding, and watering calms the amygdala and activates the prefrontal cortex. Feelings of clarity and control wash over your mind, interrupting anxiety-induced spiraling and depressive thought loops. When the task is complete, dopamine (the motivation and reward chemical) spikes up and you feel happy for completing a meaningful day of work, especially when it requires a lot of effort. 

Take some time out every week to spend time in the garden, your brain will thank you!