Getting into sports – What are the benefits and how can you?
Sport is a universal language, bringing people together from all walks of life. Some people aren’t naturally inclined to enjoy them, while others may not have been raised in a ‘sporty’ family. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of benefits to watching, playing or getting involved in sports at some point.
In this article, we’ll discuss what sport can bring to your life and how you can go about getting involved.
The benefits of getting into sports
Whether you’re watching, playing or just enjoying the company of others who are, sports are an inherently social activity. Connection with others is vitally important for our mental and physical wellbeing, and sport offers a great way to foster deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.
Being passionate about something can also boost your mental health and mood. Hobbies bring joy and take your mind off other things, providing relief from common symptoms of conditions like depression and anxiety. Sport is a hobby for many people and helps them to balance out the stress and strains of life. Could it be a healthy form of escapism for you?
Furthermore, participating in sports is a great way to make yourself more active. Exercise is crucial for mental and physical wellbeing – it’s recommended you do at least 150 minutes per week. Your body releases endorphins during exercise which help to alleviate stress and pain and generally boost your feeling of happiness. Being more active can also improve your sense of self-esteem and confidence.
How to get into sports
Getting into sports doesn’t have to be done on anyone else’s terms but your own. Whatever you feel comfortable with is what you should do to start with, although breaking out of your comfort zone is invaluable for personal growth and development.
To get started with sports, you could:
Watch a match with friends or colleagues: Other people are often an easy gateway to appreciating and understanding sports. Go along with friends or colleagues to watch a sports fixture in a pub, at home or at a live event. They can support you for the first time and help you understand what’s going on. Who knows, you might be wearing the shirt of your favourite player before long.
Join a local club or organised group: If you want to get involved with sports rather than just watch, why not see what your local area has to offer in terms of clubs or organised groups? Running clubs, sports teams and social groups often underpin local communities, so you might find yourself at home with one of these. But there’s no harm in trying a few anyway.
Watch sports online or on TV: You don’t have to leave the house to get your first taste of sports. Watching online or on TV at home allows you to try something new in the comfort of your own space. Put Wimbledon on the TV, watch the football highlights or watch an F1 weekend – you never know what you might enjoy.