A Green Thumb Can Relieve Stress

In our busy, hustle and bustle world, it can be stressful for those who provide care for chronically ill patients. Think about it: caregivers not only manage their own households and family life but they are also responsible for the management of their patients.

The job of a caregiver can be demanding and the stress a caregiver may feel can present itself in a variety of ways. Some of the most common symptoms of stress can be sore and aching muscles, headaches, irritability, sleeplessness, and feeling overwhelmed. The role of a caregiver is exceedingly important and every care should be taken to preserve his or her peace of mind. One way to combat stress is to develop a green thumb!

I once knew a woman who cared for a senior citizen who was battling Parkinson’s disease and she felt she was suffering from stress due to care-giving. She came up with a novel idea. She bought seeds for flowers and vegetables and began planting . After work, she would put on her most comfortable clothing and plant herbs and flowers in a flowerbox, as well as plant a few of her favorite vegetables  and fruit. She told me there was nothing like putting her hands into the cool dirt and knowing she would see the fruit of her labor literally come to life!

She looked forward to “her” time each evening. She also listened to classical music while planting. Once she planted, she carefully watered and weeded her plants. Of course, the crowning achievement was presenting her fruit and vegetables to her friends and family. She felt it was important to not plant the same plants all the time either. She tried planting all types of different fruit, vegetables, and herbs. For a thrifty, yet thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one, she would find out what type of herbs or fruit they enjoyed and then plant them in her garden. During the holiday season, she gave fresh-from-the-garden foods and herbs to family and friends.

Try planting your favorite foods or flowers today!