Everyone should adopt a stress-reducing hobby or activity, which they can engage in on a regular basis.

Many people, for instance, opt to go to the gym or take yoga classes, while others prefer hill-walking or biking outdoors. Many others choose creative, artistic, or craft-focused stress busters, such as knitting, painting, or playing a musical instrument. But studies have shown that one of the most popular - and effective - ways to de-stress is to take up gardening.

There are many reasons that gardening tops the list of stress-relieving activities – one of the most prominent being that it offers non-exerting exercise. It’s a well-known fact that exercise is good for the body and mind, raising endorphins and lowering stress. But many people aren’t thrilled about the prospect of engaging in heavy exercise. Gardening offers the perfect option, as it works your major muscles while you rake, dig, and plant.

Another advantage to gardening is that you can get healthy exposure to the sun. Aside from helping improve your mood, sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D. What’s more, gardening is a great way to get some fresh air and simply spend some time outdoors - particularly if you’re indoors a lot for work. Just remember to apply sunscreen and wear a hat to protect yourself from getting burned.

It’s also worth mentioning that a garden can be whatever you want it to be - whether you’ve always dreamed of having a vegetable garden, a lush green garden with a small waterfall, or a colourful flower garden. You can turn your garden into a setting that’s relaxing and pleasing to you. So not only can you relax while tending to your garden, you can also relieve stress simply by sitting or spending time in it.

Now that you have some great reasons to take up gardening, you’re ready to take the next step. But if you aren’t sure how to get started, you’ll find numerous resources to help you along the way - ranging from gardening magazines and books, to television shows dedicated to gardening. The latter, which can be found through satellite television services like Sky HD, is particularly helpful, as you can visually follow the various processes of gardening on television - which could make it easier for you to get started and ultimately maintain your garden.

So, if you’re searching for a stress-reducing hobby or activity, consider gardening. With so many advantages - from exercise, to having your very own patch of fresh vegetables - gardening is one of the best stress-busting activities you can adopt.