Why Gardening Feels So Much Harder Some Days Than Others

Home gardening is defined as a leisure activity that is physically relaxing and allows one to combine physical exercise with the enjoyment of growing plants and vegetables. However, many gardeners have observed that some days spent gardening seem effortless, while on other days, the same amount of work may seem unusually draining.

Current research has shown that the difference may not be as much about the level of physical work as it is about the order of the work.

Scientists who specialize in the study of human behavior and productivity have established that the order of activities is important in determining how people perceive physical and mental effort. These principles are currently being used to determine the order of gardening activities.

Starting with Simple Tasks Builds Momentum

The process of gardening often starts with a long list of jobs that may involve watering, cutting leaves, planting, and harvesting. Research suggests that starting with simpler jobs helps gardeners develop speed and eventually adapt to the physical requirements of the job.

According to a study done by Leisure Studies, an online journal accessible on ScienceDirect, starting with less intense jobs enables an individual to develop a steady working pace without getting fatigued.

In gardening, for instance, an individual may choose to water the plants, remove small weeds, or test the soil before moving to more strenuous jobs such as digging. These jobs require less physical strength but help gardeners develop mental engagement in the job.

Visible Results Improve Motivation

Another factor that affects how the work in the garden is perceived is the presence of immediate visual feedback. Gardening tasks that offer immediate visual feedback are likely to have a positive effect on the mood and attitude of the gardener.

Research cited by Princeton University showed that gardening tasks that offer immediate visual feedback are likely to offer emotional benefits that are comparable to those obtained in other recreational activities. When one harvests vegetables, cuts herbs, and prunes the flowers, they are likely to get instant feedback.

Studies published in journals such as Leisure Sciences, available through Taylor and Francis Online, indicate that early positive feedback often improves motivation and helps people maintain consistent effort across longer tasks.

Grouping Similar Tasks Improves Efficiency

Another strategy identified by researchers is grouping tasks that are similar to each other. For instance, gardeners tend to move from planting to watering to trimming. This may seem to be an efficient way to garden, but it can also be detrimental to a gardener’s movement and mental well-being.

As identified in research published in a journal named Sustainability through MDPI, grouping tasks helps gardeners avoid transition costs from one type of task to another. For instance, a gardener would plant all the seeds before proceeding to water them.

Studies in the field of sustainable agriculture research published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems show that reducing cognitive switching can help individuals maintain higher levels of focus and efficiency during physically demanding tasks.

Planning a More Enjoyable Gardening Routine

As research published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems suggests, it’s also possible that doing complex or heavy tasks first will put a strain on cognition early in the session. This might negatively affect focus and decision-making capacity, leading to a poorer quality of work and a greater degree of frustration.

Having a lighter task first acts as a mental warm-up to help preserve cognition. This will allow gardeners to be more ready for more complex tasks as they go on.

Researchers stress that these changes will not decrease the volume of work to be accomplished in the garden. Instead, they will alter the way one experiences this work by finding a balance between physical work and psychological motivation.

Careful consideration of the sequence of activities will allow gardeners to use their physical energy more efficiently and keep themselves psychologically positive even when spending long hours in the garden. These changes may, over time, turn a tedious gardening routine into a more enjoyable one.

The key to a pleasant gardening routine may not be found in doing the work faster or with greater intensity. The key may simply be to select the appropriate activity to begin with.