We all know that exercise is important. But many people struggle to keep a routine going. Sports offer an excellent option for people who don’t want to feel like exercise is a drag. Just how important are sports in contributing to a healthy lifestyle both in childhood and adulthood? Read on to find out why playing a sport throughout your life can be so beneficial.
Starting a Sport as a Child Makes it Easier to Continue Into Adulthood
It’s no surprise that it’s easier to build habits as a child than it is when you’re an adult. As an adult, you’re far more likely to get caught in your old routines and habits. For this reason, it’s a good idea to establish positive, healthy habits early on in life. The passion you develop for a sport in childhood can provide just the boost you need to carry that habit onward into your adult life.
Sports Improve Your Social Life and Lower Your Stress
Stress is the culprit behind so many medical conditions and complications. Problems with sleep, digestion, and circulation can all be traced back to stress in some way. Worse yet, it’s estimated that up to 80% of children with anxiety disorders aren’t getting the treatment that they need. And that’s just part of the list of problems that stress creates in your life. It stands to reason that if you can lower your stress levels, then you will live a happier, healthier life on the whole.
Playing a sport does just that. With the routine schedule of a league or other activity group, sports also provide you with a positive social circle that creates motivation and a sense of community in your life. Without these types of bonds in your life, stress levels are sure to rise. Get involved in a sport today if you’re looking to wipe stress out!
Playing a Sport As an Adult Prevents Medical Conditions and Illnesses
Most people have no trouble admitting that exercise is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle even if they don’t exercise. So many adults struggle to keep the habit of regular exercise going for a variety of reasons. It’s no wonder why, either. As people age, their lives tend to get even more complicated. About one in three — or 75.7 million — suffer from back and neck pain. More obligations in their home and career make it even more difficult to tend to a routine of exercise and movement. When you add the fact that aging tends to make the body ache more, keeping up regular exercise such as playing a sport becomes an even greater challenge for most adults. However, all these factors also increase the importance of sticking to a regular exercise routine
But what if you hate exercise and even the idea makes you want to get away? Taking up a sport is a perfect way to get regular exercise in your life. If you’re like most middle-aged or older adults, dull repetitive exercises such as running on a treadmill are not exactly your image of a fun afternoon. But you should also know that 4 in 5 older adults will battle at least one chronic condition or illness such as heart disorders, arthritis, or osteoporosis. And 50% will battle at least two. Exercise is perhaps one of the greatest ways to combat the development or worsening of a chronic condition or illness. And taking up a sport is one of the best ways to make exercise attractive and appealing rather than repulsive. In fact, playing a sport may help you avoid having to get home care in the long run and help you decrease the odds of health conditions and other illnesses.
Sports Allow You to Choose Your Activity Based on Your Preferences
Whether you’re new to sports or not, it’s never too late to get started. What’s fun about sports is that you can find many different sports to fit your personal goals and personality. If you’re a fan of classic team-based competition then you might consider playing volleyball. If you’re more of a loner, then taking up a regular swimming routine might be just the exercise you need. Regardless of your temperament, there is always a sport out there that will provide you with fun and exercise.
Baseball is another excellent sport to take up if you’re interested in the team aspect that sports offer. There are some more specific considerations with the sport that you’ll have to factor in depending on your location. For example, you should know that shaved bats don’t do well in cold temperatures. Do not use your shaved bat if it’s colder than 65 degrees outside. Perhaps you could make baseball your summer sport and choose something else that you can play indoors during the winter. There is no shortage of options when it comes to choosing the sport that’s right for you.
Playing a Sport Can Decrease Your Medical Bills
According to the CDC, approximately one-third of American families struggle to pay medical bills. When you add to that the costs of home care, doctor visits, and other specialized health care services, the cost of poor health habits can quickly add up. In fact, the average American has $38,000 of debt, not including mortgages. The good news is that there are ways to prevent having so many medical bills from stacking up. After maintaining your diet, perhaps the best way to avoid medical visits and subsequent bills is to ensure that you get adequate exercise.
Many people tout the benefits of exercise as there are many. Sure, playing a sport helps you to improve your social life by maintaining old relationships and making new friends, but it can also be an important part of your body’s preventative maintenance regimen. Some insurance providers even offer discounted gym rates to their clients who want to start making healthier choices. When up to 87% of families are living in debt, these small savings can add up in the long run. Whether you’re in need of home care or not, or it’s never too late to take up a sport so that you can avoid the high costs of medical bills.
As you can see, playing sports is important both as a child and an adult. If you’ve been considering getting started, then don’t delay any longer. Playing sports can offer a new dimension of fun and health to your life. Sports provide an excellent outlet to deal with stress, build new relationships, and nurture your health. Have fun out there!
