How are you doing? No, how are you doing really?
Are you starting to feel that “end-of-the-year” burnout?
There’s only a little over 2 months left in 2023– do you feel like you’re clawing yourself toward the finish line?
Well, if this is you, I just might’ve found something that could help. It’s called…
Garden Bathing
Wait! Wait Wait! Hear me out! I promise this is a real thing and that I’m not just being a crazy plant lady. (this time)
Derived from the Japanese practice of forest bathing, garden bathing is the practice of intentionally spending time in a garden for improved mood and mental/physical/spiritual health.
Gurl, what?
NO, I’m not telling you to wash off outside in the middle of a garden. But if you’d like to do that, too– no judgment.
How Does Garden Bathing Work?
To get started, all you have to do is make your way to any garden and deeply focus on what’s around you. The benefits come from letting the garden “wash over you”– hence, bathing. That’s it.
It’s easy in theory but harder than you’d think in practice because our minds are constantly overwhelmed by…well… life. That’s why garden bathing is a practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.
And, the benefits are worth it. Studies show that shifting focus from everyday life’s stressors to immediate sensory inputs from a garden– sights, sounds, smells, and feels– for a few minutes each week can give you access to higher levels of emotional and spiritual well-being.
Okay, but why do that in a garden?
Because a garden is filled with multiple types of gentle sensory stimulation AND focusing on the color green triggers positive thinking: it’s calming, refreshing, and restorative. It can even conjure up happy memories.
And, I can absolutely attest to this.
After my mother’s passing followed by sudden unemployment due to the WGA & SAG-AFTRA strikes that brought the film industry to a screeching halt followed by the passings of my aunt & grandmother (2023 has been ROUGH), I can say with my full chest that I wouldn’t be here as a functioning person if it weren’t for my garden.
Honestly, I can feel my mood lift every time I step out onto my balcony or walk through NOLA’s Botanical Gardens in City Park.
The mental health benefits I continue to experience from gardening are the reason why I am a crazy plant lady who thinks everyone should have a garden. It’s nice to find out there’s actual science behind that.
Let’s walk through how Garden Bathing works
Move Slowly Through the Garden
The key is to relax and take in what’s around you: listen to the birds chirping, feel the texture of the leaves, and observe the different shades in the sea of green.
Steady Your Breath, Inhale Deeply & Exhale Slowly
After a few moments, you’ll notice how your breathing will match the “rhythm” of the garden. Trust me– you’ll feel the connection.
Stay As Long As You Can
Park yourself on a bench if you can. You’ll see benefits from garden bathing only a few minutes each week, but spending more time in a garden is even better.
Start Your Own Garden
Imagine how amazing it would be to have your own little sanctuary right outside your door to bathe in whenever you need to recharge.
I’m ready to help when you are.
Would you try Garden Bathing? Are you ready to start your own garden to “bathe” in? Let me know in the comments.