Give Your Outdoorphins a Boost this International Day of Happiness
Today marks the International Day of Happiness and Perrywood Garden Centre is encouraging everyone to discover the benefits of getting green fingered.
From lifting our mood to purifying the air, getting out in the garden or bringing greenery indoors is scientifically proven to have a positive impact on the way we feel.
With happiness and health a key theme for Perrywood this year, the garden centre takes a look at the top reasons we should get ‘potty about plants’ this International Day of Happiness:
- Boosting outdoorphins – yes that really is a thing! These microbes release the same feelings of happiness and energy as endorphins but they are found in soil[1]. Outdoorphins work as an antidepressant and are scientifically proven to lift moods and combat negative emotions. Isn’t nature wonderful?
In fact, gardening and being around plants can be a form of therapy and is associated with positive emotions, self-esteem and hope. The process of planting and nurturing plants can give people a sense of purpose and once the plants are thriving, a sense of achievement too.
Having a small piece of nature in your home or workspace can make you feel happier, less likely to feel depressed and anxious whilst boosting energy. Even creating a hanging basket can do wonders for our mood, adding a splash of colour throughout spring and beyond. Nurturing and caring for a living thing ultimately helps us feel better in a deep and meaningful way.
- Getting outside – many people are living increasingly sedative lives and our reliance on technology means that we’re often missing out on enjoying the great outdoors. Spending time in the garden gives us the chance to escape the TV, our smartphones and laptops.
A study in the UK showed that just five minutes working in a green environment (like your garden) reduces depression in 71% of participants[2].
Nothing says happiness like a breath of fresh air after being stuck inside all day.
- Physical benefits – working up a sweat in the garden is a fantastic way to get vital exercise without feeling like you’ve been put through your paces at the gym. Research suggests that one hour of weeding burns up to 300 calories, whilst 500 calories can disappear with just an hour behind a hand-push lawn mower. To put it in perspective, that’s about the same as an hour playing tennis![3]
This combined with stretching and reaching movements can help improve balance, dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
- Air purifying – did you know, houseplants can literally clean the air? Indoor air can be stale and full of pollutants as a result of synthetic modern materials and poor temperature regulation. This can lead to a whole host of health issues such as allergies, asthma and headaches.
However it has been proven that by introducing 15-18 houseplants indoors, the quality of the air in your home can be improved dramatically. Plants including Aloe Vera, Spider Plants, Sansevieria and Boston Fern make great additions to indoor spaces and bring benefits including removing toxins from the atmosphere.
If you want to find out more about how plants can have a positive impact on our wellbeing visit Perrywood in store, follow Perrywood on social media or go to https://www.perrywood.co.uk.
[1] https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2018/02/10/think-you-dont-need-houseplants-science-says-different/&refURL=https://www.google.co.uk/&referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/
[2] https://www.mind.org.uk/media/273470/ecotherapy.pdf
[3] https://thrivelearn.org.uk/blogposts/health-benefits-of-gardening/