With the New Year upon us it is time again to come up with our resolutions. Some of us will vow to hit the gym and lose weight, some of us will attempt to quit smoking and some of us will start a new hobby. For those of you that are looking to get involved with a new hobby you may not have to look as far as you might think.
Gardening is one of the best activities for increased happiness and it’s even backed by science. Of course getting outside and improving the look of your yard can make you feel better but what most people may not know is that getting your hands dirty with soil and coming into contact with specific soil bacteria is actually proven to increase serotonin levels in the brain.
Gardening can literally help solve depression with the increase of serotonin. With increased serotonin levels, which are a natural anti-depressant, comes the improvement of your immune system as well.
And while there are scientific reasons to garden, there is also a non-scientific reason as well….family quality time. Gardening can be a perfect way to get your family outside and enjoy spending time together while improving the look of your yard. It inherently brings a feeling of accomplishment when you improve the look of your yard but when you do it is as a family it can be that much more enjoyable.
It also helps get those kids off of their video games and into the yard. Studies show that the more often children come into contact with soil and bacteria the stronger their immune systems will be. This helps them as they get older as they will be less susceptible to sickness and illnesses.
So get your family off of the couch and into the yard. It will not only improve the health of you and your family but will also improve your mental health and happiness as well!