So, here we are about six months after making a classic New Year’s resolution to be healthier in 2024. One of the items on that get healthy to-do list was probably ‘start going to the gym.’ Well, how’s that one going for you these days? If you’re still going regularly, congratulations. If you’re not, you’re not alone.
But wait! Before you resign yourself to an unhealthy rest of the year, determined to try again next January, look at the gym you have right outside your door—the garden!
Remember when we were kids, and our parents would yell at us to get off the couch and go outside to get some fresh air? Well, it wasn’t so that they could be alone for a while – fresh air is good for you (assuming that you live somewhere that the air is actually “fresh” or close to it).
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, and one of the great providers of vitamin D is the sun. Depending on who you ask – 10 to 30 minutes of sunlight daily gets you much of the recommended D you need. So, just a short gardening session is already paying dividends.
Studies have also shown that time outside in nature can positively affect your immune health. And it isn’t all physical, either. Your mental health can also improve with time outdoors.
That’s something a crowded indoor gym can’t provide.
Now, this is where a gym thrives. The gym’s exercise possibilities are almost endless with all that equipment, weights, and machines. But don’t discount your garden here, folks.
Just think about it: What are you doing when you garden? You’re walking around getting your cardio in. You’re crouching down and getting back up – squats, anyone? You’re carrying bags of dirt, potting plants, mulch, etc – do that enough, and a full upper-body muscle workout is happening. The day after some moderate to intense garden work, you’ll probably feel a little sore – just like the day after a hard session at the gym.
Set your Fitbit or Apple Watch to workout or yardwork mode and track your time in the garden; you might be surprised by the results.
If you’re like me, under ‘go to the gym’ on the “get healthy” resolutions checklist is ‘eat healthy’.
Fruits, veggies, leafy greens – depending on where you live and how big you decide to go, you can supply a good amount of your produce with a home garden. And there may not be any better way to improve our diets. Talk about farm-to-table!
Not only does it taste better than most of what we can get at our local grocery stores – but it’s super fresh, as organic as you want, and, in some cases, cheaper. That’s a win-win-win-win in my book.
Gardening alone can have benefits; for some, it can be a spiritual and meditative practice. There are also social benefits to gardening, whether making friends and connections in a community garden or at your local nursery or even spending time with the family and encouraging your kids to get involved. And if not the kids, gardening with your partner can also be a time to bond and energize your relationship while getting healthier together.
And you can do all this without the person next to you taking selfie muscle photos in the mirror for their social media account!
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