Including sports in your weekly routine will benefit your health and wellness – beyond just the physical. Discover what you have to gain from picking up an active hobby in your spare time, whether you want a relaxed social experience or to train for a challenge.
Physical gains
The most obvious way in which sports support wellness is their effect on the body. Whether you enjoy relaxed group games of football or are training for a triathlon or other competitive race, moving your body boosts your cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles and bone density and improves your dexterity.
Many of these skills are transferrable, aiding your abilities in other fitness endeavours and enhancing your general lifestyle. There is no situation where being fitter and stronger is unhelpful, and being able to do more for longer periods can really improve your quality of life.
Keeping up a sport as a hobby will also benefit your body long-term. Those who do regular physical activity have a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease cancers and osteoarthritis, and will have better mobility as they age.
Mental wellbeing
Regular exercise is also a great way to nurture your brain and support positive mental wellbeing. The movement releases feel-good hormones like endorphins which help improve your mood in the moment and for hours afterwards. Exercise also lowers cortisol levels so you’ll feel less stressed and aids sleep so you can benefit from quality rest on a regular basis.
Playing sports has also been shown to support healthy self-esteem, giving you confidence in your abilities and reinforcing the idea that we all have unique strengths and weaknesses. Sticking with a sport for a significant time means you can set and achieve goals and track your progress over time. This is highly fulfilling and can provide much-needed perspective in difficult times.
Calculating tactics, following training plans and responding to sudden situations within games are all brain boosters, so sports can support your critical thinking, logic and memory skills too.
Social benefits
One of the main reasons to prioritise sports over exercising alone is the social benefits. Sports are a great way to find like-minded individuals who share your passions and live in your local area, opening a door to new friends and community support and creating a valuable sense of belonging.
Sports themselves also foster strong social skills such as communication, teamwork, the ability to share and compromise, respect and cooperation.
Age-inclusivity
Avoid falling into the trap of thinking sports are for certain ages. As long as you come prepared with a positive attitude and good sense of fun, you can get enjoyment out of playing sports at any stage of life.
Look for clubs in your local area to suit your needs: chances are, alongside the kids teams and serious non-professional sides, you’ll find relaxed options happy to welcome.
Nb. Collaborative post.
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