YOUR LIFE YOUR HEALTH

Why Gardening During COVID-19 Is Healing For The Mind & Soul

Jul 11, 2020, 11:46 AM | Updated: 11:53 am

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Stress relief can be hard to come by, and yet it’s something many people are seeking this year. For those who are tired of being stuck inside during this pandemic, look no further than your garden for a safe and therapeutic way to get outside.

“It just feels good to hold soil,” Sheryl McGlochlin said, sifting through a fistful.

She said there’s something about dirt that makes the stress of COVID-19 disappear.

“It truly is therapy,” McGlochlin said. She loves to soak up the sunshine and kick off her shoes when she’s working in the garden.

Sheryl McGlochlin said gardening gives her a sense of calmness.

Sheryl McGlochlin has been gardening for years. Despite the pandemic, she says the world feels normal when she is spending time outside in nature.

“Because everything feels normal outside,” she said. “The trees are still so beautiful … everything grows, and so it doesn’t feel like we’re living in a weird kind of year.”

She said it also gives her hope. “Like everything is really going to be okay,” McGlochlin said.

She called gardening ‘work therapy.’

“Being able to work outside is so healing,” she explained.

As a grocery store worker, Randy Ohlwiler is reminded of the virus every day.

As a grocery store worker, Randy Ohlwiler is reminded of the virus daily. He says coming to the garden is his way to escape.

“It has been stressful and wearing the mask for nine and ten hours a day gets (to be) a little bit much sometimes,” he said.

But in the garden, discussion about the coronavirus is off-limits.

“We’re going to talk about gardening, we’re going to talk about our children, we’re going to talk about things other than the fears of the world,” Ohlwiler said.

He said it’s also a much-needed break from electronic devices. “In fact, I left my phone in my car. I just realized that 15 minutes ago,” he said, noting that he didn’t need it.

Intermountain Healthcare’s Dr. Marie Shelton, an osteopathic family practice physician at the Orem Central Clinic, said gardening helps people feel connected and in control at a time when many feel isolated and lacking control.

“You’re able to see something grow, you’re able to help it, nurture it and also kind of control that environment,” she explained.

Shelton said sunshine is a great source of vitamin D, which can benefit someone’s mental health.

Dr. Marie Shelton says watching something grow after tending to a garden, helps people feel like they have control over an environment.

“So by getting out in the sun, they just feel it. They feel better,” she said. “My patients that are deficient in vitamin D have a lack of energy, kind of lack of motivation to do things.”

She said being active outside naturally produces the feel-good hormones.

“Serotonin, dopamine, these things all feed for your energy and for your mood,” she said. “My patients that are actively gardening and outdoors are overall much healthier.”

McGlochlin said gardening helps her live in the present. “We call it moving meditation,” she explained.

Shelton said the repetitive motions in gardening are methodical and can help someone take their mind off things and gives them better perspective.

“It just makes all your problems just kind of float away,” McGlochlin said.

Plus, McGlochlin believes gardening is a safe way to stay physically distanced, but socially connected.

“Even as a group, we can be spaced very far apart,” she said.

The group meets a couple of times a week. For more information, see details about McGlochlin’s group online.

Intermountain Healthcare’s Orem Community Hospital also offers about 50 garden plots to families in the public through an application process each February. If you are interested in participating you can apply for a plot online.

KSL 5 TV Live

Your Life Your Health

Tina Gomez was 27 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis....

Emma Benson

‘It’s different every day’: Understanding multiple sclerosis and its prevalence in Utah

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, a chance to talk about this neurological condition which affects more than 30,000 Utahns.

2 hours ago

...

Emma Benson

National Nutrition Month: How to talk about body image with your kids

March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign designed to promote informed eating choices and positive body image.

6 days ago

Brady Dransfield (right) poses with his father, Scott Dransfield shortly after transplant surgery. ...

Emma Benson

‘Listen to your body’: Transplant survivor shares story for World Kidney Day

A kidney transplant survivor is warning others about kidney disease, including on World Kidney Day.

14 days ago

Mark Seguin in the hospital...

Emma Benson

Colon Cancer Awareness Month: Survivor urges screenings, early detection 

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a chance to raise awareness of the number one cancer killer for men under 50, and number two for women under 50.

21 days ago

Comiske riding her stationary bike, something she does every morning....

Emma Benson

Strategies to lengthen your life

The CDC says, on average, women tend to live 5-7 years longer than men because men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease, but there are simple, healthy ways to increase your life expectancy.

28 days ago

Chris and Aimee Tyler, speaking about their experience with Chris's pancreatic cancer diagnosis....

Emma Benson

‘Cancer can affect anybody’: Utah couple processes pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and often goes undetected until it's advanced. One Utah County man is fighting for more time with his loved ones.

1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Why Gardening During COVID-19 Is Healing For The Mind & Soul