Little acts of self care can provide a huge boost to our mental health. A particularly lovely act of self care is to create a jam jar posy with flowers and greenery from your garden. While you go about those essential summer tasks such as pruning the roses, and side shooting tomatoes, snip a few blooms and pop them into a jam jar filled with fresh water. If you have an abundance of blooms you can create a couple as gifts for your family or neighbours too!
Gardening is so beneficial at any age, but especially in later life. Whether you are an avid gardener or just enjoy a gentle potter around, the benefits are:
- Stimulating. Gardens are sensory places where the sights, sounds and scents are constantly changing.
- Exercise. As we get older it becomes more important than ever to make sure that physical movement is a regular part of life.
- Cognitive function. Gardening encourages thought and reasoning, and may reduce the risk of illness and dementia.
- Mental health. Simply being out in the fresh air and sunshine is uplifting, remembering our sunscreen and regular sips of water of course.
If you don't have a garden why not consider a window box, a few pretty pots, or an indoor herb garden on the kitchen windowsill? Even nurturing a small growing space can be very beneficial.
I very much hope you are all enjoying your garden spaces, big or small, this summer.
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