Sports: What's the Big Deal and Why Should We Care?

Ever thought sporting activities were a complete waste of time and energy? Don’t feel guilty. I used to believe so too, until recently. Did you know that there is an international day of sport for development and peace set aside by the United Nations? Again, don’t beat yourself up. I only recently found out too.

Anyway, there is, and it was recently celebrated on the 6th of April. This got me thinking. If sports weren’t all that, why do we have a day set apart to celebrate it? Why do we even need to engage in sporting activities? I kid you not, by the time you’re done reading this, you’d be gearing up to pick a sports activity today. Happy reading!

1. Stress relief and fitness

By engaging in sporting activities, you are able to let go of some stress that must have piled up in the course of the day or the week as you engage in your daily activities. Sports go beyond keeping you fit physically but go on to serve as some form of an emotional buffer as well. The physical activities you engage in during sporting activities can help reduce problems of stress and anxiety. Research has shown that exercise tackles stress through both behavioral and neurochemical means. Hence, if you want to keep fit, and relax from stress, engaging in sporting activities might be a great option.

2. Quality sleep life

There is a strong, positive connection between sleep and regular exercise. By regularly engaging in sporting activities, you can tackle things like sleep problems. Those with sleeping problems are able to get more sleep when they exercise regularly. This is according to information from the National Sleep Foundation. However, the mechanism by which this happens is yet to be discovered. Regardless though, as long as the outcomes remain positive, it’s a win.

3. Improved heart health

The heart is one of the most vital organs in your body. In many countries of the world, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death. Several studies have however shown that regular exercise gotten by participating in sports can greatly improve your heart health, causing your chances of dying from cardiovascular disease to drop drastically. For instance, persons who swim or participate in aerobic activities experience great reductions in mortality rates for cardiovascular death (British journal of sports medicine).

4. Blood pressure regulation

Regularly engaging in sporting activities, particularly aerobics, can be employed to control or lower your blood pressure. Any sporting activity that makes use of different muscles in repeated and rhythmic movements is known as aerobic exercise. These exercises include swimming, cycling, table tennis, and a host of others. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adults are advised to engage in 50 to 300 minutes per week of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

5. Skill acquisition

Consistent practice makes perfect, doesn’t it? Consistently engaging in sporting activities will provide you with several skills that you never thought you could achieve via sport, and will go on to make you a master of such skill. There is not one sport that does not involve some form of leadership sill, competition, and focus. However, you don’t get to learn these traits the minute you sign up, but by being a regular sports person, you’re building your capacity and will gradually learn to hone those qualities. So, keep at it. You’re not only becoming a better sportsman; you’re also becoming better skilled in other works of life. What a win!

6. Importance of teamwork

By playing as a team, you get to bond with other people out of your regular circle. In cases where communication, cooperation, and previous practicing all come together positively, you enjoy a great sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. For both children and adults, teamwork can be a beautiful learning experience. It can also improve the efficiency of an adult group of workers. Teams bring their team members a huge sense of belonging, and with them, learning never stops.