Gardeners and exercisers had fewer sleep complaints than non-exercisers, and those who spent more time in the garden had increasingly fewer complaints.
Adults who have trouble sleeping may want to try getting their hands dirty for a better night’s rest.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that adults who spent time working in the garden had fewer sleep issues. The findings offer insight into the importance of unplugging from screens and devices and spending time outside.
Sleep Deprivation: A National Epidemic
Our modern world, rife with smartphones, tablets, and laptops all offering endless entertainment, social media updates, and after-hours work emails, can make it hard to disconnect and wind down before bedtime. The National Council on Aging reports that 13.5 percent of American adults feel tired or exhausted most days and that more than one-third report getting less than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Furthermore, about 30 percent of adults report having insomnia, with about 10 percent of those having it so bad that it affects their daily lives.
A.C. Dahnke
Author
A.C. Dahnke is a freelance writer and editor residing in California. She has covered community journalism and health care news for nearly a decade, winning a California Newspaper Publishers Award for her work.
