Graduating Alongside Your blooming Flowerbed | discussions with Ravi Shah
In the midst of the school year, stress levels can often skyrocket. However, a simple solution to alleviate this pressure might be closer than you think - gardening.
Ravi Shah, a recent graduate from the University of Texas, has discovered the calming effects of gardening firsthand. He finds solace in growing mint in his garden, and his green thumb has taught him an important lesson: good things take time to grow.
Gardening has been found to significantly benefit mental health, particularly for students under high stress. Engaging in gardening activities helps lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and calms the autonomic nervous system, promoting a restful, healing state. Tasks like watering, touching soil, and observing plant growth also activate brain areas related to attention, pleasure, and goal-setting, improving mood, focus, and emotional balance.
Moreover, gardening encourages mindfulness, quiets threat detection centers in the brain, and fosters a sense of accomplishment and hope, which can be crucial for students facing mental health challenges.
For students living in dorms or apartments, low-maintenance, space-efficient gardens are ideal. Indoor plants such as the snake plant require minimal watering, survive low light conditions, and can improve air quality and mood without much care. Sensory-rich, easy-to-grow plants like pelargoniums, lavender, mint, lemon balm, and chamomile also work well for small spaces and provide calming scents and edible rewards. Container gardening, small herb pots, and vertical gardens or windowsill setups allow students to integrate plant care into their limited space while reaping mental health benefits.
Ravi Shah, now part of the Gardenuity team, did not garden while he was a student due to lack of time and space. However, he shares that the benefits of gardening outweigh the potential stress of starting a garden. Spending time in the garden can provide discipline, routine, and an opportunity to decompress and celebrate success.
In a recent poll, 46% of students answered that they did not garden while they were in school. Yet, 78% of those who did not garden wish they would have taken up the practice. Gardening can help students absorb information better and clear their minds between classes or lectures. It also aids in coping with stress, as commented by Ravi Shah.
If you're a student looking to start your own garden, consider the garden kits offered by Gardenuity. Perfect for beginners and suitable for dorm rooms or apartments, these kits can help you reap the numerous health benefits of gardening, including reduced stress levels, boosted mood, and improved general happiness.
In conclusion, simple plant care in compact setups can offer powerful stress relief and emotional support for students coping with high stress levels. So, why not give gardening a try this school year? You might just find that it helps you thrive.
- Ravi Shah, a recent graduate from the University of Texas, discovered the calming effects of gardening, even in the confines of a dorm or apartment.
- Gardening, particularly low-maintenance indoor plants, has been found to benefit mental health, lowering stress hormones, improving focus, and promoting emotional balance.
- Engaging in gardening activities can foster a sense of accomplishment and hope, both crucial for students facing mental health challenges, as Ravi Shah experienced.
- This school year, considering a gardening lifestyle, perhaps with a compact garden kit like those offered by Gardenuity, could offer you powerful stress relief and emotional support.
