Grow Yourself Healthy – Staying happy
Illustrations: Vicki Turner
In our six-part magazine series, Grow Yourself Healthy, we're looking in detail at the ways in which gardening can improve both your mental and physical health. The third part, Staying happy, can be found in the June 2019 issue of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, available Thursday 30 May.
Plus, heighten your happiness with the help of our collection of practical projects, videos and features, below.
Connecting with others
Use gardening as a way to connect with others. Swap cuttings and, share heavy tasks, give someone who needs it an extra hand and ask older gardeners for advice and tips - sharing brings everyone happiness.
Sowing seeds
Sow seeds to focus the mind. This will provide a distraction from daily stresses and everyday problems, boosting happiness as a result.
Getting your hands dirty
Contact with soil can make you happier. Tests prove that mice show increased levels of mood-boosting hormone seratonin when exposed to soil bacteria.
Planning for the future
Think about what you want from your garden in the coming months and years. Consider plants you'd like to grow and features you'd like to introduce - this unleashes creativity, and gives a focus on something that has a high-reward factor.
Secret Garden
More seratonin-boosting content for members of Subscriber Club
