As you age, it can become harder and harder to find physical activities that help keep you fit while also keeping you safe. But believe it or not, there are activities you already likely do, like gardening, which can also be a part of staying fit.
Whether it’s weeding, sowing, or even just watering regularly, gardening can help you stay fit. Read on to learn more about how gardening can improve fitness.
Gardening Works Your Entire Body
Gardening is one of the few exercises that work your entire body. From your arms to your legs, neck, and core, gardening truly activates every muscle in your body. This is thanks to the unique combination of movements gardening requires, such as kneeling, reaching, digging, leaning forward, and more.
While we frequently discuss the health benefits of walking on this blog, walking only works a limited number of your muscles. Although this isn’t bad, balance is important in physical fitness, and we think gardening is a great way to work some of the muscles that aren’t activated when you take an evening walk.
Gardening is Low Impact
Generally speaking, all of the motions you perform while gardening are low-impact for your joints. This means that performing these activities is unlikely to be strenuous on your joints, even as you age.
We aren’t suggesting you just start gardening randomly, however, and there may still be some items you need to protect your aging body as you garden. Some examples include knee pads, gloves, and more. If you have specific concerns, they are best discussed with your physician.
Additionally, even those who are wheelchair bound or have mobility issues can still garden. You just need some help getting started, such as setting up a worktable where you can repot plants and flowers. While you will be slightly limited on the plants you can choose, we find that the majority can be grown in pots or raised beds that can be cared for from a wheelchair!
Gardening Burns As Many Calories as Cycling
We aren’t joking, not only does gardening give your muscles a good workout, but it’s good for your figure as well. While you shouldn’t expect to burn as many calories as you would running, it is one of your best options if you are starting to feel your age in your bones and muscles.
While exact calorie burn will depend on your height and weight, specialists estimate that 30 minutes of gardening burns at least 135 calories, though the number goes up from there, with many individuals burning 220 calories or more. Of course, gardening is tough work, so you don’t want to overdo it. We recommend starting with just 30 minutes to one hour of gardening each day.
Gardening Reduces Stress
For the most part, exercising is a great way to reduce stress, as it encourages your body to release a stress-reducing hormone. That being said, as you age, exercise can sometimes feel stressful, especially if you worry you may injure yourself or not make the same progress you used to.
Gardening is above all this, because it’s exercise without tracking numbers while still giving you something you can track—the growth of your plants. It allows you to exercise without fear or shame while also giving you a reward for the work you put in every day, either flowers, a beautiful lawn, or delicious home-grown vegetables.
Gardening Can Also Be Social
Studies have shown that it is so much easier to stay active when you have a friend or social reason to do so. With gardening, it’s easy to include a family member, a friend, or even your grandchild, giving you a reason to garden on the days you might not feel like it.
Additionally, even if you don’t have a yard of your own, community gardens are an excellent place to stretch your gardening muscles and meet new friends. In fact, some people report they love the community they found while gardening more than they love their garden itself!
Gardening is Time Spent Outdoors
While you should always wear sunscreen when gardening, it is important to spend time in the sun soaking up vitamin D, something which gardening makes it easy to do! We also recommend a hat and sunglasses, though as long as you use sunscreen, enjoy wearing your T-Shirt! Vitamin D is an essential aspect of keeping your mood and happiness positively regulated.
Just ensure you also stay hydrated, bringing a bottle of water with you so you can take sips as you go! Also, if it is extremely hot, ensure you plan to take breaks so you don’t get heat exhaustion.
You Might Even Save Money
We always recommend gardening as a good source of physical activity for individuals of any age. That being said, gardening can be especially beneficial if you are on a fixed income.
We obviously can’t guarantee that your garden will be successful, but if you spend 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week, we assume you will have something to show for it. While fresh fruits or veggies can save you money at the grocery store, a bed of flowers can also give you something to gift for friends’ birthdays, etc. And, even if your idea of gardening is just a nice lawn, this can save you money on HOA fees or fines.
That being said, if you are looking for some guidance on what to grow, we recommend focusing on vegetables whenever possible, as these will save you the most money in the store—though a nice section of flowers and herbs also never hurts! New help getting started? Check out our low-maintenance plant recommendations.
Overall, no matter what your age or living situation, gardening can be a great way to keep you healthy, happy, and connected with your environment. No matter your abilities or activity levels, gardening has something for everyone. Just ensure you take the time to purchase the right tools, and be patient as you learn. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!
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