Top 5 Reasons to Garden this Spring

May 15, 2015 ‐ Sylvaine HughsonPosted by ‐ Under: Peak Performance

Spring has well and truly arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere! As the weather gets warmer and the days become longer we have an extraordinary opportunity to savor the best of what nature has to offer from a healing standpoint by spending time outdoors. The more we connect with the natural world in the coming months through how we live, what we eat, and where we spend our time, the more quickly we can help reset our bodies and ultimately restore them to balance. A quick and easy way to do this without permanently moving out of the city or taking an extended vacation is to reconnect with the nature that’s closest to you – your backyard. Here are my top five reasons to consider planting a garden this spring to help optimize your life and inspire you to take action.

1. It Changes Your Perspective

Spending time outdoors and reconnecting with the natural world is one of the quickest and most effective ways to shift your perspective. Many of us spend a lot of time in our heads focused on our thoughts, to do lists, and problems that need solving, etc. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to take a break and step back by focusing on something that gets us out of our heads and back into our bodies.

2. It Resets Your Body

Spending time outdoors enjoying fresh air, sunlight, plants, etc. can help reset your circadian rhythms – in essence your “body clock”. A powerful way to do this is to get a minimum of 15 minutes of sunlight a day and to take the time to walk barefoot, preferably in a grassy area. In this day and age where we live in cities surrounded by buildings, concrete sidewalks, and wear shoes all day – it’s easy to understand how we have lost some of our more direct physical connections to the natural world. If gardening is just simply not something that interests you, that’s ok – then at least make a point of going for walks in a park or jogging outdoors. The more you spend time outside the more quickly you will reset your body, feel happier and more balanced.

3. It Lowers Your Stress Levels

The sense of “tapping into something greater than ourselves” not only provides a sense of satisfaction, but it also allows us to switch into more of a “being” versus “doing” mode. Gardening is meditation in motion. While your body is busy working on a task, your mind quiets itself and you begin to focus on simply enjoying the present moment.

4. Fresh is Best

Eating fresh local organic produce is one of the most powerful tools to help you regain your health and maximize your vitality. Explore adding color to all of your meals by choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables from every part of the color spectrum – the more color you add, the more complete the nutritional profile of the foods you will be eating. Planting your own vegetable garden is a wonderful way to eat directly from the source and to reconnect with all of the healing power that nature has to offer.

5. Everyone Benefits

Creating a living, thriving environment in which everyone benefits is what planting a garden is all about. Whether it helps lower someone else’s stress levels, cheers them up, or even inspires them – you are creating an opportunity for transformation for all those who come into contact with it including yourself. Not only can you involve your entire family and educate your children about where their food comes from, you can also share your homegrown produce with neighbors, green a city-scape with gorgeous flowers, and allow your imagination to run wild as you create a sanctuary for yourself. Enjoy!

Here’s to enjoying your garden this spring!