Whether you're repotting a succulent on your balcony, weeding a flower bed, or planting cherry tomatoes, gardening can feel grounding and relaxing. While there are plenty of obvious perks to be enjoyed, like savoring the sunshine and fresh air, getting your hands as dirty as possible can also have some lesser-known benefits.
Many gardening pros suggest digging your hands directly into the soil. It's a way to really connect with what you're doing, and a post from @gardenary says that putting your hands in dirt can also alter your brain chemistry. Creator @sadealexus_ suggested gardening as part of your 2026 wellness routine, stating "touching soil has been shown to release chemicals that boost your serotonin and reduce anxiety and stress."
According to Emily Davenport, a board-certified therapist, doing so taps into your primal need to be in touch with nature. Even if you're just repotting a plant in your apartment, it feels good to release your inhibitions and get your hands dirty. Suddenly, you aren't just someone who works at a desk or stares at a screen, but a truly grounded person who's touching something natural and real.
As Davenport says, touching dirt brings you into the present moment and puts you back in touch with your senses. Dirt is cold and has an earthy aroma, which can ground you in the same way the viral 5-4-3-2-1 technique does. Digging also activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the opposite of fight-or-flight. "When our parasympathetic nervous system is activated, our stress hormone, cortisol, decreases," she tells Bustle.
Gardening gives you a result you can see. Your nervous system registers 'I did something and it worked,' and that feeling is deeply regulating. On TikTok, many creators have mentioned that soil contains a bacterium called Mycobacterium Vaccae, which some early studies have linked to mood-related effects. "When people say gardening makes them feel better, it's true," therapist Hillary Pilotto says.
If you live in an apartment or city, you can plant herbs on a balcony or have an array of pots in a sunny window. If you have a yard, starting your own garden could be your best way into this hobby. Remember, don't wear gloves when you dig. Instead, really get in there with your bare hands. Feel the dirt and smell the earth.