Tired of being a couch potato? Sports might just be the solution 

Ever wondered why people get cranky and annoyed, for no apparent reason? Well, you’ve knocked on the right door.

Many of us are bundles of endless energy and sports can be an excellent outlet for releasing some of that. Be it competitive cricket with your friends or just a friendly game of tug of war, any form of physical exertion can be of benefit for kids and adults alike.

You’ll find a plethora of different sports across the globe. From football to swimming to even just throwing a frisbee is a sport. How’s that? Whichever game you play, it’s got the same benefits. Some of these benefits include:

Stay fit and healthy:

The most mentioned advantage of sports is obviously health. But do you know the science behind that? Our heart is basically a muscle, and like all the other muscles, the more it works, the stronger it gets, hence preventing heart disease.  Fortunately, a healthy heart means healthy blood pressure. Additionally, blood vessels remain clean as more blood flows through them, cutting the fat around your veins and making them more flexible.

In a recent interview with Kyle Jamieson, a fast bowler on New Zealand’s international cricket team, he commented on the importance of fitness, saying that other than playing cricket, it was various physical activities that were a remedy for his deteriorating health. So, if you’re stressed about those extra calories you took in last night, a game of cricket might be just what you need to put that weighing machine aside.

Boost confidence:

Furthermore, the mental benefits of sports are not trailing behind. Now, how do you feel when listening to your coach’s tiniest of encouragement? Or maybe when you hit the winning six in a cricket match? The most beautiful changes are happening inside your brain at that time. Strong confidence is a vital characteristic that should be developed in every individual, including you. The tenacity instilled in a person through sport can become a manual for their success.

Relieve Stress:

 A recent study shows that taking part in sports can reduce symptoms of stress in kids and adults both. Shahbaz Choudhry is the CEO of the world’s number one fast bowling platform. He has stated that when anxiety struck him in the early stages of his career, it was sports that helped him crawl out of its grasp. Here’s why.

 Physical exertion releases endorphins in the brain which are key feel-good transmitters for the mind and body.

Sport helps us focus on the task at hand making us forget all our worries. What’s better, this act of focusing on the concerned assignment also aids in increasing our brain function, consequently boosting IQ, and at the same time, EQ.

Develop Team and Leadership Skills:

A healthy competition between peers is what makes them come closer to each other. Any team has a bunch of individuals that have the patience, knowledge and skill of working with others. These traits can be easily developed at an early age, through physical education.

An individual might also be exposed to a leadership position that would help him better be able to adapt to the tense environment that leaders often face. One can know what it is like to be a leader, and what a boss is.    

Wrapping up, these are just some of the innumerous blessings sports can bestow upon us. Many studies and researches are being conducted on the human body’s relation with physical activity, and with each survey, the merit for sport just gets higher and higher. After reading this blog, I hope you’ll check off that new pair of badminton rackets from your shopping list soon.

By: Ayan Khan