Stock: gardening on canal boat flowers
Living on a narrowboat offers a unique and often idyllic lifestyle that can have significant, positive impacts on both physical and mental health. Your floating home can provide a tranquil and peaceful environment, far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It can also present its own set of challenges.
Physical activity
Narrowboat living might involve a greater level of physical activity. Tasks such as tying up to moor, lifting supplies and working the locks require strength, flexibility, and balance. So, it’s important to balance physical effort with relaxation and avoid overexertion.
Added to these challenges, working and living in the confined space of a narrowboat can make it challenging to maintain good posture and ergonomics. Consider this when choosing or replacing your fixtures and fittings, using ergonomic furniture where possible. Taking regular breaks to stretch and move around, is even more important than when living on land, where movement is less restricted. If amenities are limited on your narrowboat, tasks such as emptying a cassette toilet, might also require more physical effort.
Healthy diet planning
More planning may be needed when thinking about sourcing healthy food. With limited space for storage, and restricted access to nearby shops, it’s good to buy smaller portions of fresh produce and prepare meals from scratch. This can lead to a more balanced and nutritious diet. Try some tasty ideas from the Narrowboat Chef:
credit: narrowboat chef creme-brulee
credit: narrowboat chef fruit smoothee
credit: narrowboat chef Marsala Poached Pears
Savoury
www.narrowboatchef.com/recipes/savoury-recipes/
Sweet
www.narrowboatchef.com/recipes/sweet-recipes/
Narrowboat Gardening
You may even consider growing and preserving your own food, if you have the space. Roof gardens to grow vegetables and plants are a joy to see on narrowboats. Gardening presents some fun challenges with use of space, drainage what will grow best in a minified environment. Generally all plants need to be potted, fixed pots on the deck or hanging baskets tied to the handrail. Growth should be planned around the seasonal weather changes and boat maintenance. Primroses & hyacinths make colourful flowers on a boat they look their best January through to March. Strawberries are a great idea but may attract some flying guests.
Here is a lovely insightful guide to gardening on a narrowboat
www.awholeplottalove.com/gardening-on-a-boat
Carolyn Shearlock is a creative cruiser with over 17 years and 13,000 miles on boats. Her guide to a boat garden includes custom DIY designs for pots.
www.theboatgalley.com/diy-boat-garden
Canal boat’s website ideas to creatively style your narrowboat
Relaxation and peace of mind
“spending time by water, and canals in particular, is good for your health and wellbeing”
The tranquil and peaceful nature of narrowboat living can significantly reduce stress levels. Being surrounded by water and the constant exposure to nature can create a sense of calm and relaxation. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce stress and improve mood. One study created by researchers at King’s College London revealed that spending time by water, and canals in particular, is good for your health and wellbeing. Data was gathered from an app that measures people’s experiences living in rural and city environments
If living alone living aboard a narrowboat can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation, especially in remote areas. However there is a strong sense of community among narrowboaters and visiting local towns and villages or keeping contact via online social media communities such as the Narrowboat Owners Facebook Group you can maintain a sense of belonging.
Other mental health boosts include practising, yoga or mindfulness or relaxation from reading or listening to music. Establishing a daily routine can also help you feel more grounded.
Local GP registration
You are entitled to register with a G.P., even as a continuous cruiser of no fixed address. You can register with any GP in your local area as a temporary resident, as long as they have space for new patients. By understanding the potential challenges and planning proactive steps to address them, you can enjoy a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle living aboard your narrowboat.
Trial your Narrowboat life
If your interested in living on a narrowboat then why not take a Fox narrowboat for a 2 week holiday and really experience the day to day exploration, wellbeing and chores!
