“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
– George Bernard Shaw
I sometimes miss the excitement of the approaching evening when I was growing up in the late nineties. I would wait impatiently for the clock to strike 5 so that I can get rid of my books and head out where I loved it the most. Partly sunny, with a cool breeze and with my gang of friends playing different sports and games, was something that I wouldn’t miss even for my favorite chocolate bar.
That was 20 years ago. Things have changed a lot over time.
As years passed, academic brilliance became the cornerstone of success in life and importance of play started being neglected. Parents started discouraging their kids from playing outdoors very often, as they might neglect their studies or would be too tired to study later.
There are many things we can learn by playing sports. These skills are very handy in other areas of life as well.
And as if obesity wasn’t already spreading like a wildfire, out came ‘Social Media.’
Outdoor activities have been neglected to an alarming extent in the last two decades or so. And it’s only becoming worse. In some cases, parents are realizing the importance of play. Some are literally pushing their kids to play outdoors.
It is not only the kids that can benefit from sports. Sports and other such outdoor activities have numerous advantages even for adults, couples, and corporate teams.
We need to change our mindset and encourage everyone around us to go out and play, starting with ourselves.
No matter young or old, we all need to play!
PHYSICAL HEALTH
A study shows that obesity in children has more than doubled from 1980 to 2010. It is growing at an alarming rate. This pretty much explains the increase in heart-related diseases and diabetes.
Outdoor activities have numerous health benefits. All of that while having fun.
Playing outside will give you plenty of chances to run, jump, lift and more. These movements will provide aerobic and strength training. In children, this will also promote better growth of their muscles and bones.
Sports and outdoor activities also strengthen the bones in adults reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Last but not least, playing outdoor will also give you sun exposure which is a source of vitamin D. Experts recommend between 15 to 30 minutes of sun exposure daily.
MENTAL HEALTH
Playing outdoors isn’t only physically beneficial, but it is an important part of mental peace and growth as well. Playing is fun and doing something fun is a great stress buster. More and more people are suffering from stress and anxiety in today’s world.
Playing something you like can boost your mental health reducing stress and anxiety.
Work and family commitments for adults, and school, tuitions/extra classes and extracurricular activities for children. People hardly have time to do something that is essential and yet enjoyable like sports. This is where the importance of play comes in.
Sports and other physical activities have proven to reduce stress. A person who is not over-stressed is less likely to ever suffer from anxiety or depression.
INTELLECTUAL AND COGNITIVE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
You might’ve not heard this one, but sports also intellectually stimulate your mind.
Sports intellectually challenge your mind by testing your problem solving and organizational skills.
When playing a sport, you have to stay focused and you may have to learn new techniques. Also, various challenges come up during a game which forces the team or the individual to change the game strategy.
All of this encourages learning, problem-solving and creativity. Playing will also improve your ability to process and remember new information.
A few other things we can learn through sports – discipline, patience, presence of mind and organizational skills.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Now this one is very important. As we are spending more time on social networks, we are increasingly getting awkward in real life social situations.
Sports can teach you teamwork and how to keep your selfish motives aside for the greater good of the team.
While any sport will have numerous benefits, but team sports present some incredible lessons that can prove to be beneficial throughout your life.
Playing in a team teaches us how to work in a group towards a common goal. Teamwork can teach us very valuable things like sharing and resolving conflicts.
Playing sports with your family, spouse or colleagues can reveal new dimensions to your relationships.
Now that we have spoken about the importance of play, it is time that we change our mindset, step out, sweat it out and have lots of fun. Pick a sport that you enjoy playing. If you were never really into sports, just pick something that you enjoyed watching but never got a chance to learn.
Encourage your family, friends, and everyone around you to explore the joy and the benefits that come with sports and outdoor activities.
Also check out: 2 Very Good Reasons To Start Meditating While You’re Young
Thank you for reading. Do share your views in the comments below.
Also, don’t forget to share this with your friends and family if you found it useful.
Young entrepreneur based in Bangalore.
Loves traveling to new places, trying out new things, a fitness enthusiast, Gunners fan, and a music lover.
