If you consider yourself an indoor person, we’re about to share what outdoors lovers have known all along: being outdoors in natural spaces isn’t just pleasant and enjoyable, it’s also physically and emotionally healing.
You don’t need to be on a tropical beach or somewhere high up on a mountaintop to reap the benefits bestowed on us by Mother Nature. You can find all the peace and happiness you need right in your own back yard.
We’ve collected nine posts to inspire you to find your own joy, from incorporating healing plants to choosing the right colors. Read one, read them all! See what calls to you and learn how creating a great outdoor space – and spending time enjoying it – can be a truly life-changing experience.
1. Landscaping For Joy: How To Make Your Outdoor Space Your Happy Place
Did you know that spending time outside is one of the most reliable ways to improve your mood? From the physical effects of the Vitamin D we get from the sun, to the existential joy we feel watching a butterfly land on a beautiful flower, being outdoors has profound benefits.
But being on a busy street corner isn’t the same as being surrounded by natural beauty! That’s why we’ve put together these tips and ideas for creating an outdoor space that you can enjoy every time you walk out your door.
2. These Plants, Herbs And Flowers Will Banish The Blahs And Boost Your Mood
When you’re going through a rough patch (and even when you’re not!) self-care is one of the most important things you can do. You already know that being outdoors is good for your mental and physical health, so it’s time to take it a step further and surround yourself with plants that have healing properties, too.
Whether you want to reduce stress, improve your mood, or banish the blahs, these garden gems will bring a multi sensory experience to any landscape.
3. The Health Benefits Of Being Outdoors Are More Profound Than You Think
Here’s a statistic that should raise an eyebrow: the average American spends upwards of 90% of their time indoors! Considering all the benefits of being outdoors in nature, that’s an awful lot of missed opportunity.
This post is for everyone whose parents ever told them to “go outside and play.” We eventually learned that our faces wouldn’t freeze that way, but other parental words of wisdom remain true! Find out how being outdoors can make a difference in your health and well being, and why it’s so important for you to spend more time with Mother Nature.
4. Grow Some Happiness! Finding Joy Outdoors In Difficult Times
This year has been a tough one for so many people. Keeping a positive mindset under such trying and unusual circumstances isn’t easy. That’s why it’s so important to turn over every stone looking for whatever joy is hiding there.
Our mission here at Grounds Keeper is to create the kind of environment that will bring you happiness and joy throughout every season, and every year. For this post, we asked some of our customers to share how happiness is growing in their own outdoor spaces, and the answers were heartening.
5. Feeling Depressed Or Anxious? Getting Your Hands Dirty Can Help.
We bet you’ve been told to wash your hands a lot this year. It’s sound advice even during the best of times, but right now we’d like to convince you to get your hands dirty. Not just any kind of dirty – “digging down in the dirt” dirty!
A healthy mind and body rely not only on avoiding dangerous viruses and bacteria, but also on the presence of friendly bacteria. Can you guess where some of that friendly bacteria is found?
If you said garden soil, you get a gold star! Here’s a peek into how friendly soil bacteria can improve your mood, help you sleep better, boost your immune system, curb anxiety and just make you feel all-around better.
6. The Healing Power Of Water
In just the past decade, more and more scientists have begun to study the effects of water – specifically ponds, waterfalls, oceans and other natural features – on health and wellness. The results have confirmed what many pond owners have probably known all along. Water soothes, heals and restores.
It’s not just mystical thinking, either. Some unique studies have revealed fascinating results, from water’s ability to improve the behavior of Alzheimer’s patients, to its creativity-boosting properties.
If you’re on the fence about installing a water feature in your yard, learn more about the natural benefits of something as simple as a fountain or as stunning as a koi pond right outside your home.
7. 3 Intriguing Ways That Color Impacts Landscape Design
Color trends come and go but the principles of good color design remain the same. Color sets the scene, creates harmony between indoors and out, and affects how you feel about your outdoor space. It can make a space look bigger or smaller, cozy or airy, crisp modern or country cottage.
You might be surprised by how subtle choices can really affect your mood and experience. Here are three of the ways that color makes a difference in your landscape and why.
8. 5 Ways To Turn Your Back Yard Into A Relaxing Oasis
If you’ve been stuck at home for longer than you’d like, it might be time to think about how you can take advantage of the space you have.
This post is part one of a two-part series to help you create that oasis you’re not only dreaming of but that you probably desperately need right now. In this post, we’re focusing on some of the specific elements that you can add to create an inviting space and achieve a sense of well-being.
9. 4 (More!) Ways Create A Relaxing Back Yard Oasis
Does the world today have you stressed to your max? You’re not alone! The good news is that a great outdoor space can do wonders for your well being.
In our previous post we shared landscape elements that can bring peace and a little bit of self-indulgent joy to your space. In this one, we’re going a little more abstract – and exploring the sensory side of things. Here are even more ways to turn a ho-hum back yard into the perfect retreat space.
That was a lot of reading! We hope we’ve inspired you to think about how your outdoor space can be an integral part of your life and well-being. If you’d like to talk about creating an outdoor space that bring you joy, contact us for a consultation. We’d love to bring happiness right to your yard!
