Gardening is one of life’s simple pleasures, although those that engage regularly in it will know that there’s nothing simple about it at all. 

Cultivating life on a set lot or in a beautiful garden is nothing if not the core of nourishment and care, and what you put into this practice will be exactly what you get out of it.

More and more people are starting to take up a gardening habit, because in our very technology-focused and connected world, we have become disconnected from nature around us. 

No matter if you’re hoping to curate your garden or even rent out space at a local allotment, having a green space that is yours to do with what you will can be wonderful. 

There’s something special about planting with your own hands, tilling the soil at your own behest, and seeing the quite literal ‘fruits’ (or vegetables and flowers) of your labor grow.

That said, gardening can be hard on the body, and for this reason, it’s important to make sure we don’t cause lasting damage, particularly as we age. In this post, we’ll discuss a few means of practicing self-care in those circumstances:

Stretch Properly Before & After Gardening

It’s important to stretch properly before gardening, because you’ll be bending down a lot, picking items up, and generally stretching your body as you don’t usually do in every day life when working with the ground. Dynamic stretches like gentle lunges, swinging our arms gently, squats, and loosening our hips can work wonders here. 

This way, you can warm up your muscles and joints before the real work begins.

Have Issues Checked Out & Worked On

It’s a great idea to have issues checked out if you notice a problem. For instance, a lack of mobility, or a twinged muscle or nerve, or pain that you haven’t felt before, this should be referred to via a medical professional. It might mean that visiting chiropractors to help you restore your mobility and operate under their advice can help you get the best out of your gardening, even if you don’t feel quite as spry as you used to. 

Sometimes, knowing where you stand, particularly in nature, is the most important thing.

Use The Proper Tools & Check Safety Always

It’s important to use the proper tools and to check your safety needs going forward. Ergonomic spades and other garden tools can make a big difference. Wearing proper footwear can help you avoid trips. Techniques like lifting with your legs, not your back, can help you more easily move around bags of soil. Wear protective garden gloves to prevent cuts. Additionally, make sure your store all of your garden equipment safely. 

The last thing you want is to stand on a rake and experience the most cartoon-like injury possible. When you make sure your gardening session is prepared for from a safety perspective, you’re more likely to remain safe throughout the experience and get the most out of it.

With this advice, we hope you can remain gardening-fit even as you age.

Full Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a small commission for any sales made through them, at no cost to you, of course. This little bit goes to help support the costs of running my blog and every little bit helps support my family. 

Thank you so much in advance friends!