According to research, leisure activities, such
as gardening, can actually have just as many physical benefits
as working out does. A recent study, published in the British
Journal of Sports Medicine, measured in participants what the
study refers to as “leisure time physical activity.”
Doing leisure time
physical activity for just 10-59 minutes a week resulted in an
18 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality. The more you do,
the less risk you have. Those who engaged in 150 to 299 minutes
of physical activity each week had a 31 percent decrease in
mortality.
Leisure time physical activity could refer to anything that
exerts physical activity, but is more fun than your monotonous
routine at the gym. Dancing qualifies as a leisure time physical
activity, as does walking, hiking, and swimming. However, one of
the best activities for this kind of benefit is gardening.
There have been many
studies in the past that show regular gardening helps you keep
in top physical shape. Whether it is weeding, trimming, or
raking, gardening can help you burn up to 300 calories an hour.
Plus, related activities such as spading, lifting and tilling
can help you increase your muscle tone and strength.
In addition to physical
benefits, gardening in general has been linked to many other
health benefits, including less depression, anxiety, and stress,
according to a meta analysis published in Preventative Medicine
Reports. It also found that people who garden regularly also had
a better sense of life satisfaction in general.