Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time to garden! Of course, not everyone has a garden – gardening can be too time-consuming for people who work full-time or travel frequently. But, one of the things to love about retirement – and quarantining – is having more free time to relax and adopt a hobby. All of the above can be benefits of tending to your garden.
Maybe you can’t go to work or see many friends, but you can tend to your garden – literally. Converting some of your lawn into a garden means less mowing, fewer fertilizers and herbicides, and more time spent enjoying the outdoors. As time goes on, you’ll see, smell, and maybe even taste the fruits of your labor.
A garden is not only beautiful; it’s functional. Growing your own vegetables can be a healthy habit and may reduce your grocery bill a bit. An abundant garden may be something that a potential home buyer likes to see. Gardening can also be a good form of light exercise, and a way to enjoy the outdoors. Gardening may help you de-stress by lowering cortisol levels in your brain, according to the Journal of Health Psychology. Gardening can also be a great mental exercise, as it involves decision making and close observation of plants and weather patterns. It may require you to learn new skills and information about insects, diseases, and the climate, which can help keep your brain sharp in retirement.
If you’re a creative person, a garden can be a space to design and create something of your own. Gardening in small spaces or harsh climates can be an interesting challenge and might force you to think outside of the box. And, choosing the colors and shape of your garden can stretch your creative muscles.
Whether it’s physical or mental stimulation you’re looking for in retirement, tending to your garden can be an answer. If you haven’t thought about what activities you’ll do and lifestyle you’ll have in retirement, it can help to do so before you start financial planning. We can help you create a retirement plan with your unique lifestyle goals in mind.
