Men’s Health Week focusses on the ability to change the conversation and allow men to reach out and talk about their emotions and feelings.
Mental health is still so poorly communicated, by specifically men, and we see this in our practice every day.
Talking isn’t everyone’s strong point, so here are some tips on gardening for mental health and how it can be so beneficial to your mental health.
You may be processing how to talk about your feelings or get some stress out by tackling the list of things to do, beginning in your garden. Remember too, a healthy functioning nervous system will support your body to function optimally.
Getting some sunshine
Getting out in the garden is one of the best ways, particularly in winter, to soak up some Vitamin D.
Correct levels of Vitamin D have been linked to improved mood and being in the sunshine is a way we can effectively increase our Vitamin D level.
Particularly in winter, when the days are shorter it is important to get some safe sun exposure.
This will both get us these levels without the UV risk and boost those levels when we are likely to get less otherwise.
Tackle that do list
So many jobs build up slowly, but constantly. It’s a nice analogy for our mental health. Mowing the grass is such a good one.
So very quickly, that grass grows when we are doing all the other things and forgetting about the regular things that make our garden look lovely.
Specific winter tasks – mowing, pruning, gutters and planting (cauliflower, broccoli, silver beet and cabbage varieties thrive in the colder months).
It also helps decrease that mental load of I have so much to do, which compounds the stress and mental health impacts.
Movement!
Your Chiropractor is very interested in seeing you move well through the winter months and not be under a rug bingeing TV all weekend.
Good movement and exercise from physical labour is also fantastic for your mental health.
Gardening really involves a lot of primal movements, pushing, lifting, climbing, pulling, which is great for connecting us to our roots.
Grounding
There is a lot of information out there about grounding and connecting to earth. I’m going to talk about it more broadly.
Listening to the birds, smelling dirt, tasting your fresh produce, seeing the sun and sky, and connecting to the earth through garden really helps people be mindful.
It’s so wonderful to complete a task and see the progress that you’ve made.
How proud can people feel from a fresh mow, weed, new garden project? There is something special about doing it yourself.
Mental health needs to be spoken about in our community.
We want to help fly the banner and have our door open to men to chat about what is happening in their lives and give proper tips or guidance on speaking to others.
Also, making sure your physical body is in tip top condition to move and function physically is so important.
Great nervous system function will provide a great foundation for optimal function.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing distress, contact lifeline 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
If you have any questions or concerns about how chiropractic care can contribute to improved mental health, please call us on (02) 6257 9400.
If you would like some more information about the spine and nervous system and how it relates to your health, please check the other articles on our Facebook page or go to our website: www.spinecentre.com.au