Participating in any sport is beneficial to your body, by the means of reducing stress levels and increasing feelings of physical and psychological well being, including using sport for relaxation and further health benefits. You might feel as though you are just too busy or too stressed to join an organized action, but engaging in a lone game may also supply stress-relieving advantages in many ways you may not even be aware of. Regular exercise should be part of everyone’s regular stress-management routine because of the numerous physical and psychological rewards. Travelling to see a sports game and enjoying the atmosphere is a great way to relax and rejuvenate.
Endorphins
Whether you decide to take part in a group sport such as football, baseball, basketball, cricket, or a lone sport like jogging, or swimming, physical action of any kind stimulates your body’s production of neurotransmitters, also known as brain chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are the compounds responsible for the feeling called “runner’s high”. A study published in 2008 in the journal “Cerebral Cortex” found that elevated levels of endogenous opioids — or endorphins — accounts for the runner’s-elevated feeling because of increased binding with opioid receptors in the limbic and prefrontal regions of your mind, which are the components responsible for positive changes in mood. Elevated levels of endorphins cause a “feel-good” reaction, reduce pain and help release symptoms of stress and tension. And it does not matter how you run, or what you decide to wear whilst you run. Just pop on a reversible singlet and start running your worries away…
Sports and routine exercise provide physical and psychological stress relief, which may help particular mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Stress and depression are often triggered or exacerbated by excessive levels of anxiety. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise may diminish mild symptoms of depression and anxiety and promote improved quality of sleep, which is a problem for lots of people experiencing mental health disorders. Quality sleep may decrease levels of stress brought on by depression and anxiety and may lead to an improved awareness of well-being.
Socialization
For many people, socialization is an essential part of any stress-management routine. A recent post on the Volunteer Behavioral Health site, states that socializing with others either on the sporting field or off, helps relief stress, by boosting the release of the hormone oxytocin, which raises feelings of comfort and reduces overall anxiety. Participating in a group or team game can offer a highly effective medium for obtaining the stress-relieving advantages of social contact. By joining a team game, and wearing any type of uniform such as basketball hoodies as a group, might make you feel more motivated to exercise regularly as apart of a sporting team. You will also have the chance to make new friends and create a sense of camaraderie by working towards a mutual aim, or health goal.
Self-Esteem
When you engage in any sporting game, helps increase feelings of self-esteem and self-efficacy, which can significantly lower your overall level of anxiety. If you have ever stayed inactive for an extended time period, you are familiar with that lethargic, apathetic feeling that could quickly turn to feelings of self-loathing or even depression, which could further exacerbate your stress levels to a higher level. The American Council on Exercise states that regular exercise can help improve your sense of self-worth, which is a powerful mechanism for relieving anxiety and stress in the human body.
If you are active in any type of sport, whether part of a sporting team or by going solo, reduces your risk of depression and anxiety, helping you to relax and to focus on the important things in life, rather than the constantly worrying about the little things.