Is Your Hobby Rejuvenating You?
Do you have a favorite hobby? Maybe you have too many and not enough time to enjoy them all? Or maybe you feel like the rest of life’s demands put hobbies on the backburner? Maybe your only hobby is being on a screen?
A few years back, I found myself at home a lot more than I was used to with an infant who napped a lot and a toddler who I wished would nap more (haha). I couldn’t very well up and leave to go pursue an athletic hobby that would take me away from the house like running, and even if I could…I hate running. I do enjoy several indoor hobbies like DIY home remodeling, woodworking, reading, and piano, but I found myself quite Vitamin D deficient and needing to be outside. But I didn’t want to just sit around outside; I wanted to do something active that would be an exercise boost.
Stuck inside on a screen? Get everyone outside to the garden!
If you, like me, are at home but want to be outside more, moving more, and are willing to try a new hobby, I invite you to entertain the idea of gardening. Here’s why:
1) Time: Once your garden is set up, there are a few exceptions in a year where you might need to spend an extra handful of concentrated hours in the garden, but for the most part, you could spend as little as 5-15 minutes a day in the garden and be able to keep it growing. Garden Coaching can get your garden started quickly so you can enjoy it! Fair warning: once you get addicted to gardening, you might find that 5-15 minutes a day just isn’t enough to get your fix.
2) Sunshine: Nearly half of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D, which can cause weakness, fatigue, depression, and more. Here in Texas, if you’re wearing shorts and a tank top, spending 15 minutes in the garden also doubles down as your Vitamin D fix for the day. Just make sure you don’t slather on sunscreen first!
3) Let’s Move: Studies have shown that adding short bursts of movement throughout your day helps regulate blood sugar, reduce insulin resistance, and lower inflammation in the body (source). Though gardening isn’t a daily CrossFit workout, it still gets you moving.
4) Dirt Doesn’t Hurt: Researchers have connected regular contact with dirt to a reduction in allergy symptoms and overall improved immunity. I chant “Dirt doesn’t hurt!” to my kids when we go outside to combat our culture’s hyper-paranoia about germs and encourage them to happily dig in.
5) Stress Busting: Being outside tending plants in your garden reduces your cortisol levels, lowers anxiety, and boosts creativity.
And of course, if you’re at all health conscious, gardening is the only way to be 100% sure what’s in/on your food while it’s growing and avoid nasty pesticides and sprays. Bonus points if your hobby is cooking and you add gardening as a parallel yet complimentary hobby!!
So, if you’re in need of a new hobby and want to try gardening, give me a shout! I can get you started and enjoying it ASAP.
