Finding Solace on the Riding Mower

Hello, dear readers. It’s Meghann here. As the sun dips toward the horizon on this Monday, August 11, 2025, casting a warm glow over our home, I find myself reflecting on a unique escape that’s become my lifeline: when stress mounts, I “check out” by firing up my riding lawn mower. Gliding across the yard, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic sweep of the blades offer a sanctuary amid life’s demands. Managing my home health care agency, raising four incredible kids as a single mom, and carrying the weight of past emotional scars, this ritual pulls me into a space of calm. If you’ve ever turned a chore into a personal retreat during tough times, know this post explores why it works for me, delving into its significance with a psychology lens to uncover its deeper benefits.

For me, “checking out” isn’t avoidance; it’s a necessary pause. The daily pressures—co-parenting challenges with relationships that blur lines, community whispers echoing old blame, and the lingering doubt from years of being the family scapegoat—can feel overwhelming. That’s when I climb aboard my riding mower. The open air, the steady pace, the satisfaction of a freshly trimmed lawn—it shifts my focus, quieting the mental storm and grounding me in the moment.

Psychologically, this makes sense. Repetitive tasks like mowing can induce a meditative state, akin to mindfulness, where attention to the physical act reduces anxiety. Research from psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes this as a “flow state,” where immersion in the task dissolves time and stress. The physical effort on a riding mower releases endorphins, natural mood enhancers, while lowering cortisol, the stress hormone. Being outdoors amplifies the effect—studies show green spaces boost relaxation, memory, and mood, with the scent of cut grass potentially triggering dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. For caregivers like me, this routine offers control and order, countering the unpredictability that fuels burnout, and provides mental clarity to face the day.

In my life, mowing is more than maintenance; it’s therapy. It echoes lessons of self-reliance from my childhood in a large family and stands in stark contrast to the chaos where I was always the problem. Those rides let me process, pray, or simply breathe, emerging renewed to nurture my kids with “I love you more”. It’s a quiet rebellion against stress, transforming a task into a ritual of self-care.

Let’s celebrate these hidden havens.

With love,

Meghann

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