How Gardening Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your Mental Well-Being During IVF
IVF can be a journey filled with both hope and uncertainty. While it offers the possibility of pregnancy, it also brings emotional and physical challenges that affect daily life. Stress becomes a central factor that can influence both treatment outcomes and overall well-being. For this reason, many women look to holistic approaches that help ease pressure during the process.
The Emotional Challenges of IVF and the Importance of Holistic Self-Care
You may have heard IVF described as a “technology of hope” because it offers a path toward pregnancy. Yet the process also carries an emotional burden that can be overwhelming. Women undergoing IVF frequently report anxiety, depression and stress that disrupt daily life. Financial strain and relationship challenges only add to this complex experience.
About 40% of women facing infertility meet the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis and have an increased risk of suicidal ideation, yet these psychological pressures are sometimes invisible. Many women report hiding their struggles or avoiding conversations with providers, even though stress is one of the leading reasons for discontinuing IVF. This silence reinforces isolation and can make treatment even more challenging. Learning how to deal with stress during IVF becomes essential for mental health and for resilience through treatment.
6 Ways Gardening Can Support Your Mental Well-being During IVF
Gardening as a hobby can boost many stress-relieving benefits, so it’s a great option for women undergoing IVF treatment.
Encourages Mindfulness and Presence
Mindfulness supports well-being by helping you hold opposing emotions without needing to act on them — simply acknowledging their presence. You can practice this throughout the day in small moments, making it manageable and accessible.
Daily gardening can strengthen this connection and keep you focused on the present moment. Regular practice builds resilience, tolerance and acceptance, allowing you to navigate life's natural ups and downs. It’s essential when exploring how to deal with stress during IVF.
Boosts Mood Through Physical Activity
Gardening is a physical activity that can significantly help manage anxiety and ease related symptoms because it releases endorphins in the brain that trigger positive feelings. Movement also helps reduce stress, elevate mood and improve self-esteem. Regular activity regulates stress hormones like cortisol while promoting a balance of key neurochemicals that influence emotional well-being.
Movement stimulates endocannabinoids, compounds linked to relaxation and pleasure. These chemicals can improve focus, memory and decision-making while alleviating worry and feelings of hopelessness. Physical activity creates a restorative experience that strengthens emotional resilience and reduces depressive symptoms. The secret lies in finding something fun and lively to do and making it a regular part of your routine. Consider gardening daily or adding more planters to your yard to increase activity levels and motivation.
Connects You with Nature and the Outdoors
Engaging with nature provides holistic benefits, supporting physical, emotional and social well-being while offering a restorative experience. Natural environments create a safe and supportive space for processing emotions, helping reduce stress and promote balance.
Nature supports higher well-being, resilience and restoration. It also has positive effects on stress, fatigue and cognitive functioning. Even simple activities like walking outdoors can improve focus and lower depression and stress, leading to greater happiness than similar activities in urban environments. Nature is a powerful resource for emotional and physical health.
Prioritizes Self-Care During IVF
Due to the physical treatments and emotional ups and downs, infertility can be exhausting. Self-care can help you manage stress and support your well-being. Simple strategies like engaging in enjoyable activities can create small moments of relief and help you feel more grounded.
Choosing an activity that feels personal and comforting — such as gardening — can give you space to pause and focus on yourself. It offers a chance to take a break from constant stress, practice presence and engage in something that feels nurturing. These intentional moments of self-care support emotional balance and provide a quiet, restorative pause during the IVF journey.
Offers Opportunities for Social Connection
From tending a few plants to joining a community garden, gardening can support mental health by reducing stress. It can improve mood and ease anxiety. These activities also enhance cognitive performance while fostering trust and cooperation among neighbors.
Community gardening provides a safe, relaxed setting for meaningful interaction, countering feelings of loneliness and isolation. It strengthens social connectedness, builds cohesion and expands support networks, which can be especially valuable during challenging experiences like IVF.
Supports Emotional Balance and Resilience
Horticultural therapy promotes physical and mental well-being through active engagement with nature. Planting, tending and observing plants foster a calm and restorative environment. This helps individuals step back from daily pressures and find inner peace. The interaction with soil and plant growth reduces stress, eases tension and supports emotional stability.
Horticultural therapy is also effective in improving self-esteem, confidence and resilience while decreasing depressive symptoms and anxiety. Encouraging physical activity enhances emotional regulation and supports stress management. It also contributes to overall psychological health and social well-being.
Embracing Growth In the Garden and Within
Gardening supports mental well-being during IVF by offering a calming outlet that nurtures both body and mind. Spending time in nature reduces stress and improves resilience, which is essential in fertility treatments. Through gardening, you can develop patience, emotional stability and a renewed sense of purpose. Embracing this practice can help you navigate the IVF journey with balance and strength.
Beth is a mental health advocate and food editor at Body+Mind, a health and wellness brand. Her work centers around traveling and sampling global cuisines sustainably. Beth is a proponent of food justice, sustainable agriculture, and plant-based diets as ways to reduce our carbon footprints. She is raising her own family on plant-based recipes and mindful nutrition.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.