Work. World News. Schedules. Caring for our parents. Looking after our kids. Managing our homes, our teams, and an endless to-do list. It can feel like a lot. And the truth is—it is. In a world moving faster than ever, it is easy to forget how important self-care really is. How important it is to pause. To check in. To notice how we are feeling.
Every May, we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to slow down, open up conversations about mental health, and prioritize our own emotional wellbeing. But mental health should not be something we put on our to-do list just once a year.
Mental health is health.
It is not a destination. It is a journey.
And what Mental Health Awareness Month does best is remind us of something important: Supporting our mental health is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength.
This year, Mental Health America’s theme is More Good Days, Together—and it feels especially timely. At the heart of the theme is a powerful reminder: there is no health without mental health. And while 1 in 5 people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition this year, the truth is 5 in 5 of us are managing our mental health every single day.
Because mental health is not something that only matters in crisis. It matters in the everyday. In how we handle stress. How we sleep. How we cope. How we connect. How we recover from hard moments.
What I appreciate most about this year’s theme is its recognition that a “good” day looks different for all of us. For one person, a good day might mean feeling productive. For another, it might mean getting out of bed. For someone else, it might mean finding five quiet minutes to breathe, pause, and reset. That idea matters.
Because mental wellbeing is personal.
It is not one-size-fits-all. It asks us to meet ourselves—and each other—where we are. To offer support without judgment. To create space for honesty. And to remember that sometimes helping someone have more good days starts with something simple: a conversation, a moment of connection, or a shared experience that reminds them they are not alone.
Because mental health is part of being human. And caring for it should be part of how we live.
Research continues to show that chronic stress impacts everything—from sleep and focus to mood, memory, and physical health. The American Psychological Association continues to highlight the impact of stress on both emotional and physical wellbeing. And researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that spending time in nature can reduce stress and improve mood.
Which makes one thing clear: Pausing is not unproductive. Pausing is productive. A moment outside. A walk around the block. Watering your herbs. Checking on your tomato plant. Harvesting basil before dinner. These small acts can shift the way a day feels. And sometimes, those small moments are exactly what we need.
At Gardenuity and Gardenuity For Business, we’ve seen firsthand how the gardening experience impacts mental health.
Not because it solves everything. But because it creates space for connection.
Space for joy.
Space for presence.
Space to breathe.
Across the country, companies are rethinking wellness—not just as a benefit, but as an experience. Because experiences create connection. And connection supports mental wellbeing. We have watched teams plant together, laugh together, share stories, and pause together. And in those moments, something shifts. People slow down. People open up. People reconnect—with nature, with each other, and often with themselves.
That matters.
Because wellness at work is not just about productivity. It is about people. And gardening offers something powerful in that conversation.
Gardening gives us connection—to the soil, to the season, and often to ourselves. There is something grounding about putting your hands in the dirt and tending to something living. You feel it. Gardening gives us pause. Not the kind forced by exhaustion—but the kind chosen with intention.
Watering a plant.
Trimming herbs.
Checking on new growth.
These moments slow us down and remind us that not everything has to happen at once.
Gardening gives us perspective. Plants do not rush. They grow in their own time. They remind us that progress is often quiet and growth is not always visible right away. Gardening gives us something to nurture. And in nurturing something else, we often reconnect with our own need for care. A new leaf. A fresh bloom. A ripe pepper.
Visible growth reminds us that even in hard seasons, growth is still happening. And maybe that is one of the most important reminders of all. Mental health is not about having it all figured out. It is about creating small practices that support you through real life.
A pause. A conversation. A moment outside. A garden.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, give yourself permission to slow down. Check in. Open up.
And if you need a place to begin—start with something simple. Plant something. Pause with it. Grow with it.
Gardening for Mental Health Research
If gardening feels good for your mental health, it is not just in your head. The research is catching up to what gardeners have known for generations.
A growing body of studies continues to show that time spent gardening and in green spaces can positively impact emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and support overall mental health. We’ve listed some of them below.