Gardening Could Be the Secret to Healthy Aging and Better Sleep, Study Finds

Eating right and being physically active are two of the most important factors in living longer and healthier. And there's one hobby that could help you accomplish both—gardening.

A new study from the Mather Institute found that gardening supports older adults' physical and psychosocial well-being. To explore the wide array of benefits gardening offers, researchers surveyed more than 2,000 people aged 55 and older about their behaviors related to gardening and a variety of well-being outcomes.

The most surprising finding was that gardening could be the key to getting long-term exercise.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends older adults aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week. Researchers discovered that many older adults who garden far exceed these guidelines, averaging approximately five hours of gardening per week, with the majority maintaining the habit over decades.

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Actions like digging, tilling, or weeding are considered physically moderate or vigorous, in addition to being enjoyable, which means most gardeners might be meeting exercise guidelines without even trying.

Gardeners were also found to have a stronger sense of purpose, satisfaction with life, and sense of gratitude when compared to non-gardeners.

Older adults who garden also reported engaging in significantly more healthy behaviors on average compared to their non-gardening counterparts, such as exercising, eating a balanced diet, seeing dentists and doctors, and getting enough sleep. Plus, they tended to consume significantly more fruits and vegetables and engage in other healthy eating habits more often.

If you're looking to take up gardening, consider enlisting a friend or visiting a local nursery for help getting started.

“My biggest recommendation is to find a friend and enjoy the process together,” Laurel Mertz, MA, a senior research analyst at Mather Institute, explained in a news release. “People can join community gardens and harvest swaps to share tips with one another. They can also find a gardening mentor or visit a nursery and talk with the staff about what tools they need and what time of year to plant.”

And for those facing health challenges, less intensive forms of gardening, such as hydroponic or aeroponic gardening, could be viable alternatives.