AXA investigates the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening

• Fifty per cent of people who have done gardening report an improvement in their happiness, 43 per cent say it’s relaxing and reduces anxiety and 42 per cent report an improvement in their mental health
• Meanwhile 45 per cent reported an improvement in their appreciation of nature and 18 per cent say gardening helped them sleep better
• 57 per cent of those surveyed said they were emotionally attached to their garden and would be upset if something happened to it

 

A spot of gardening not only gives you a good physical workout but helps reduce anxiety and boost mental wellbeing too.

Research from AXA Insurance* highlights how gardening provides both physical and emotional ‘wealth’, with 50 per cent of gardeners reporting an improvement in their happiness, 45 per cent in their appreciation of nature, 43 per cent in relaxing and reducing anxiety and 42 per cent an improvement in their mental health. 

Gardening is an excellent all-round exercise for improving strength, endurance and flexibility and can be of great help in reducing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other medical conditions. 

34 per cent of those surveyed said they learned more about their mental health from gardening, a third found gardening helped them learn more about their physical health and 27 per cent learned about the benefits of hobbies as a whole. 

And, as gardens provide a considerable amount of physical and emotional wealth, it’s perhaps not surprising that 57 per cent of those surveyed said they felt emotionally attached to their garden and would be upset if something happened to it. 

Dr Gary Bolger from AXA PPP healthcare comments: “Staying fit doesn’t have to mean paying for gym memberships or fitness classes. Everyday activities around the home can support our physical health as well as our mental wellbeing – at any age. Gardening is an excellent all-round exercise for improving strength, muscle tone, endurance and flexibility.”

For more information, visit AXA PPP healthcare’s page dedicated to the benefits of gardening.