yard work as therapy

[joycenalex]

when i find that dealing with humans and their behaviors is getting to me, working in my yard is very theraputic. today i raked some leaves, and no matter how through i am in the fall, there are always more leaves from who-knows-where in the spring. i trimmed the ornamental grasses back and pruned the shrubs a bit. while there are hours of work ahead, just doing those 3 hours makes me feel more relaxed and reconnected to life. i'm starting year 4 of the five year backyard remake plan and some of the fruits of the second and third year are coming up nicely. i work at a hospital and seeing what one human can do to another can get me down somedays. this afternoon i discovered alex laying on a patch of sunny dry grass on his back, just enjoying the moment and peanut, the new dog likes to dig, just a bit...(hmm gotta remember not to let her see me transplant anything, she might need to help. ). we went for a walk after the main work was finished, both dogs are now snoring, i've had a nice bowl of homemade chicken veggie soup, and tomorrow i can go back, restored by the warm weather, and the promise of more yard work and flowers.

[lizbud]

Working around the yard is very good therapy for life's troubles.
It really works for me too. It's excellent therapy.

[joycenalex]

i bagged the 8 ft high ornamental grass for the recycle pick up on friday, and propped the bag against the house under the carport. it's leaning against my bedroom window, as i went to close the blinds, it shifted and i jumped a foot. silly me!

[lv4dogs]

I love yard work, especially gardening. I also think it is a huge stress reliever, for me at least.

[kimboe]

ugh, i don't like yard work to much. Like cleaning it from poop.
But, i do accionally like setting up flowers to make it abit prettier.

[buttercup132]

I agree well not working but just playing in the yard with the dogs makes every thing better like even in the winter it just makes your troubles go and clears your mind. I did that yesterday when I found out about something stressful and I was so much happier after.

[joycenalex]

...so i'll be going out in a few minutes to do more raking. it's supposed to rain tomorrow, so i'm telling myself, this is the right thing to do..warm breezes, the dogs laying in the sun, yeah a real hardship..

[joycenalex]

just 5 hours of work, and the yard looks 1000% better. and i'm sore and stiff, hot bath and tylenol here i come

[Cataholic]

Oh, YEAH? Get in your car, drive 96 miles south, and I have a whole yard of therapy for you!!!

[emily_the_spoiled]

I am the same way with yard work, it can be very therapeutic. Over the last couple of years when I have been stressed at work I have worked in the yard. I have rented a chainsaw and cut down diseased trees, dug up tree roots, hauled in top soil and compost, plants lots of flowers, strawberries, raspberries, and other things.

I feel better and the yard definitely looks alot better

[JenBKR]

Oh, YEAH? Get in your car, drive 96 miles south, and I have a whole yard of therapy for you!!!

LOL I'll second that! I like to have a nice yard, but I don't really like doing the work. Some of it I don't mind, but when I look at everything that I want to do in the yard every spring I get overwhelmed and end up doing about half of what I planned to do I am hoping that I'll get better at it with time, but I'm not holding out much hope!

[Randi]

It sounds like a perfect day. I agree, it's very soothing to work in the garden, you get tired the right way - wish I had one right outside! OK, I do have a little allotment, but it takes half an hour to get there.

[Logan]

For me, working in the yard is the BEST therapy, ever, especially when my dogs and cats are with me.

[joycenalex]

Oh, YEAH? Get in your car, drive 96 miles south, and I have a whole yard of therapy for you!!!

these actions do have consequences...my low back and tush muscles, specifically the ones that are used when i sit are unhappy. today we're planning on planting the weeping cherry in the hole in the front yard. there was a 45 yr old old sugar maple where the hole was (tree removed, stump ground out) and i think the weeping cherry will look great there. i'm planning on some snow drops and lipstick red tulips around the base for fall planting. the remaining maple will be getting some sweet william (aka mayflowers, a ground cover that likes shade) around the base. the overly large prennial bed along the back fence will get 4 elijah blue fescue (ornamental grasses) planted in front of the bed, next to the yarrow ...which better take off this year or out it goes....so johanna, i'm pretty well 'therapizied' here...come north, bring jonah and you can help lunch and iced tea provided, and tylenol too

[poofy]

I would love to have a yard to work in, I have lived here on my brother prop on the desert for over 10 years, now im moving to a small space in a trailer park and still no yard..aww even a few floweres would be nice..sigh...