Spending time in a garden can prove to be beneficial for your mental health

We're sure you might have noticed that you immediately feel at peace when you're surrounded by greenery or when you enter a green environment. Well, turns out, spending some quality time in green environments like gardens can prove to be quite beneficial for you. A study was able to find that people who spend more time in gardens had better general health, better mental wellbeing and were also more inclined towards physical fitness as compared to those who don't spend time in gardens.

Data was collected from nearly 8000 people and was analysed by the researchers for this study. “Our findings suggest that whilst being able to access an outdoor space such as a garden or yard is important, using that space is what really leads to benefits for health and wellbeing,” said study lead author Sian de Bell from the University of Exeter in the UK.

The team was able to find such a significant difference in the health and wellbeing of people who went to gardens as opposed to those who didn't that they suggested that it was like the difference between the richest people and the poorest. They were also able to find that there was a difference between people who simply relaxed in the gardens and those who did some actual gardening whilst there.

They also found that those who had access to their own gardens and those who had outdoor yards were more likely to meet both higher mental wellbeing guidelines and physical activity guidelines. These results were then compared with people who didn't have their own gardens or yards. “Gardens are a crucial way for people to access and experience the natural environment. Our new evidence highlights that gardens may have a role as a public health resource and that we need to ensure that their benefit is available equally,” said study researcher Becca Lovell.

Well, this certainly goes to show that something as simple as some greenery can work wonders for one's health. So, even though you might be someone who doesn't have their own green space at home, make sure you spend some time in gardens once the lockdown is lifted. Stay tuned for more updates.