Another hobby I have for mental health is gardening. When you grow plants or cultivate a garden, you are able to see the results of your hard work and care over time. This can provide a sense of pride and fulfillment that can be especially beneficial for people who are experiencing stress or anxiety. Studies have shown that caring and nurturing others is beneficial to our sense of well-being. That can include plants.
Many people find that being in nature and working with plants can be a soothing and meditative experience. The sights, sounds, and smells of a garden can be very calming and help to reduce stress and anxiety. One thing I enjoyed very much was putting cut flowers from the garden into vases around the house bringing those smells indoors.
In Japan there are many famous gardens, some with almost no plants at all! In rock gardens the calm and sense of peace comes from raking patterns into the stones.
Some gardens are not just ornamental though. They have the added benefit of fresh vegetables! Nothing tastes quite as good as a vegetable you have grown yourself. When I was a kid my parents always had a vegetable garden. I don’t think they did it because it saved money, but because they enjoyed the process. Much of the food produced would be canned and enjoyed over the winter months as well.
In addition, gardening can also be a social activity, as it can provide an opportunity for people to connect with others who share an interest in gardening. Community gardens are a good example. Or volunteering to help maintain local parks. Interacting with other people, especially in a positive and enjoyable setting, is an important contributor to mental health.
Bonsai is another great form of gardening. It is more compact than having a vegetable garden or rose garden but still incredibly enjoyable. In Kanuma, I would go stroll through a bonsai shop on a weekly basis. They had the most amazing trees for sale. Many bonsai enthusiasts display their work and compete for prizes.
Bonsai trees, aquariums, flower arranging, it doesn’t really matter as long as the hobby provides you with an opportunity to relax, and unwind. If you find that you are anxious and stressed, start by taking a walk in a park and see if that helps. If you find it does, and I suspect you will, maybe getting into the garden and reconnecting with nature is just the hobby you need.