Ladies, power up and mow

Posted on:Mar 9, 2023

Mowing is a meditative way to catch a break, find alone time, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. 

You’re the lawn mowing service of the house—and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Mowing the lawn is a welcome break from the office and errands. It’s both empowering and peaceful. And there’s something incredibly gratifying about a clean-cut lawn that looks cared for and stands out. DIY is your every day. You’ve got this.  

We think every woman should feel the strength of operating a powerful piece of equipment and pride in a job well done. What better time during early spring and the month when we celebrate International Women’s Day to rev up the engine?

Capture time to think. The calming repetitive nature of mowing rows of grass allows your mind to escape life’s never-ending to-do list. Plus, you can gain peace of mind knowing you are actually crossing a task off of your full agenda. You can daydream, think and come up with ideas. Mowing the lawn can be meditation, and you won’t feel guilty about taking the time because you’re completing an important task. 

Mow for your health. Pushing a mower? You can burn 350 to 450 calories per hour. On a riding mower,  you’ll work off 175 to 225 calories per hour, and no matter how you mow, you’re soaking in Vitamin C* that protects your body from free radicals that can cause cancer, heart disease and other diseases. Plus, according to the National Institutes of Health**, sunlight infuses the body with Vitamin D, which prevents inflammation and helps the body retain calcium and phosphorus for bone health. Exercise*** from mowing is a full-body workout—your body will release feel-good endorphins as you breathe in fresh air and reduce stress.

Discover some me time. Is there really such a thing? Your kids probably won’t interrupt you while mowing––in case you’d ask them to take over the yard work. You won’t hear the banter of what’s going on indoors, and you can’t answer the phone with a humming engine. (We suggest leaving it inside—take a tech break.) Mowing the lawn offers some dedicated time alone, and we could all use more of that. 

Seize the moment. It’s easy to say but hard to do. With mowing, when there’s a window of good weather, you can get out there and soak it in. The rest—laundry, work, cleaning—can wait. You can do those things when it’s pouring down rain. Plus, you’ll return to those things feeling refreshed and empowered that you took control of your day. 

Gain a sense of accomplishment. There’s something about standing back to take a good look at your freshly mowed lawn and how beautiful your property is because you cared for it. Some call it curb appeal, we call it pride. 

Pro Mowing Tips

Now, here are some pointers to make the most of your mowing experience. 

Clean up debris. Before you even start the mower, walk your lawn and pick up any sticks, debris, toys and objects that could get caught in the mower and projected, potentially causing injury. 

Remember the 1/3 rule. You should only remove the top third of a grass blade to protect the health of your lawn. Adjust the cutting deck accordingly. 

Tie back long hair. Protect your locks from potentially getting caught in the mower by tying it back or wearing a headband. 

Protect your skin. Don’t skip SPF on your face, ears, neck and hands. Especially with hair pulled back, the tops of ears are directly exposed to the sun’s rays. 

Save your hands. Our hands are hard workers! Consider wearing gardening gloves to prevent calluses and protect your skin. 

Fuel your body. You’ve got the mower gasoline covered. What about your fuel? Stay hydrated by filling a water bottle before you head out, and don’t hesitate to take a refreshing break. You’d do the same if you were out for a run or in a spinning class.

Share with us! What do you love about mowing the lawn? And, if you’re interested in additional tips from the pros at Grasshopper, check out our library of how-to videos or sign up for our newsletter. Thinking about a new mower? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs.  

Sources:
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15585788/
** https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/
*** https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/
*** https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15585788/