The coronavirus pandemic has dominated our collective consciousness over the past year. However, another epidemic has grown in tandem with it. Indeed, while this second epidemic existed before coronavirus, it’s undeniable that the COVID pandemic exacerbated it.
This epidemic? Loneliness. A survey conducted in October of 2020 had around 36% of respondents claim that they felt lonely most or all the time. Our world is more insular with each passing year, and finding ways to combat the inherent loneliness can prove challenging.
One way to overcome the loneliness epidemic and improve your physical health is through social sports. Don’t believe us? You will once you read about these 3 unexpected benefits of team sports.
- Playing Team Sports Improves Social Bonding
One crucial mental health benefit that social sports can offer is the fostering of team and community spirit. It’s undeniable that spending time with others, coordinating strategies, and working together with them to achieve victory improves your ability to relate and bond with others.
Those who play social sports tend to have stronger senses of empathy and social responsibility as well.
- Social Sports Can Boost Fitness Levels
Now, on the one hand, it’s quite obvious that participating in team sports can boost your physical health and fitness levels. Improved heart function, reduced risk of obesity and its many complications, increased strength and endurance. All of these and more are common benefits one receives from playing social sports.
However, participating in group physical activities like this can help improve your mental health and fitness levels as well. Physical activity reduces stress levels, boosts serotonin, and increases mental resilience. After all, win or lose, the team has to come together and wish their opponents well for a good match.
- Sports Can Provide a Sense of Normalcy and Regularity
Last, but certainly not least, playing social sports can provide a sense of normalcy in trying times. Most social sports meet for weekly matches, use the same equipment and rules, and play the same way each time. Having such consistent experiences can be a guiding light, a lodestar in times when all else is in flux.
Part of that consistency of experience, however, relies on the equipment you have to play the game. If baseball is your social sport of choice, our friends at thebaseballdiamond.com can help you find the best equipment for your team. Whether it’s little league, a friendly game, or more intensive training, they have you covered.
Looking for Ways to Get Involved in Social Sports?
Social sports can provide some exceptional benefits, both mentally and physically. Not only can they improve your social bonding ability, but they can bolster your mental and physical health. Even better, they can provide a sense of normalcy and regular, scheduled activity in a time of chaos and flux.
Are you ready to see these benefits for yourself? Do you need to find ways to get involved in team sports? If so, the Health section of our blog can provide you with the all the insight you may need.