Gardening -One Way to Stay Active as a Senior
Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #44: Staying Active
As we age, the importance of staying active can not be overstated. The benefits are endless and even though it becomes harder the older we get, we have to make that effort. Believe me, it is worth the fight.
I turned 65 this past August. I have been retired now for 3 years and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have no problem staying busy as I have many hobbies and interests. Luckily, most of my hobbies also keep me active.
That said, I have some challenging ailments including arthritis, a torn meniscus in each knee, and back issues (due to arthritis) including degenerative disc disease and stenosis. I receive epidural steroid injections in my back every 8 months or so. They have been a lifesaver for me and have made it easier for me to stay active.
I Have Been Gardening For Many Years
If you follow my articles, you know that I am an avid gardener. I caught the bug when I was 10 or 12 years old as my parents and grandparents were gardeners as well. I have continued this tradition to this day. When we bought our current home in 1992, I then had the space for a good-sized garden. Actually, now have 3 gardens. Prior to that, I only had small patches or containers.
I started writing on Medium in December of 2023, and after realizing that there really wasn’t a publication regarding my favorite hobbies, I started the following publication:
Some of you are probably familiar with this and submit stories, if you're not, I always welcome new writers. My Submission Guidelines are pretty simple and straightforward.
The Many Benefits of Gardening
I grow vegetables and also help tend perennial flower beds. Any way you garden, flowers or vegetables, big gardens or small, it will get you moving and keep you active. Following are some of the benefits of gardening:
- Increases Strength and Flexibility: Any gardening you do will lead to this. You might not realize it at the time, but so much movement is involved in gardening. You will use muscles that you forgot you had!
- Gets You Out in the Fresh Air: To me, this is one of the best benefits. I always feel better outside no matter what I’m doing. Especially if the sun is shining!
- Relieves Stress: I remember when I was still working and had a stressful day. When I came home and walked down to the garden I would immediately feel better. I could feel the stress melting away. It forces you to be active physically and allows you to focus on something fun and simple. Even though I usually only had about an hour to garden after work, I felt so much better. Physical activity and fresh air will do it every time. As seniors, we have a different set of stressors. Gardening can help with stress of any kind.
- Improves Self-Confidence: Whether you grow flowers or vegetables or both, it’s not too hard to get good results. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel good about yourself.
- Gives You a Purpose and Sense of Accomplishment: Gardening can give you a reason to get out of bed in the morning, something to look forward to. As seniors, it is important to have a purpose and to have something to accomplish. It will keep you busy. As my Grandfather once said, “There is always something to do in a garden”.
- Gardening Can Be Adapted to Every Situation: Depending on your health and mobility, you can have a traditional garden or use raised beds or containers for your garden. Traditional raised beds aren’t really that far off the ground, so if you have trouble bending, I have seen raised beds built to different levels suitable for standing, sitting, etc. A garden can be as small as a single tomato plant in a container or some flower bulbs. Whatever you feel you can handle. In any case, I believe you will benefit physically and mentally.
I hope you find this article beneficial. If you have any questions or need some gardening advice, I will be more than happy to help you.