Benefits of Recreational Activities
1. reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and other respiratory diseases
2. control weight
3. benefits the cardiovascular system
4. burn calories
5. promote healthy blood pressure
6. increase fitness levels
7. improve mood
8. reduce stress levels
9. decreases depression
10. increases life expectancy
11. improves sleep quality
12. reduces the risk of early death
13. reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer 14 reduce tiredness and fatigue
14. reduce the chance of memory loss in later life
15. reduces the risk of cognitive impairment
16. benefits unborn babies
17. decrease likelihood of developing dementia
18. improve immune system function
19. increase chances of getting a good night’s sleep
20. improve cardiovascular health
21. Improves lung function
22. reduce the risk of osteoporosis
23. promote healthy weight
24. reduces the likelihood of becoming clinically depressed
25. reduce chronic pain
26. improve cholesterol
27. increase sexual satisfaction
28. reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes
29. lowers blood pressure
30. increases happiness
Environmental benefits of recreational activities:
1. get dirty
2. hike – more oxygen in your lungs
3. jump into the water
4. climb trees/rocks/mountains
5. build stuff in the mud/dirt/sand
6. play with animals, in the sea, in the mountains, in open spaces
7. use the whole body and the mind
8. talk to strangers
9. listen to nature
10. find your fun, your way of enjoying yourself
11. build dens, huts, or shelters
12. invent games/toys/ways of being with others
13. have a bike race/obstacle course/treasure hunt
14. go fishing/foraging for food
15. find cool stuff in nature and play with it
16. jump into puddles/mud/lakes/rivers
17. run as fast as you can down a hill
18. go on a picnic or eat outside
19. find some drums and make some noise (even if it’s just your hands clapping)
20. swim in the sea/river/lake
21. sing a song (just yourself or with friends)
22. go to the beach
23. build a sandcastle
24. make up a dance and show it to your friends/family/animals/strangers on the bus
25. sleep outside (maybe by a campfire, maybe on your back porch)
26. have a snowball fight
27. climb up the nearest big tree
28. go stargazing
29. play with mud/dirt/sand/rocks at the beach
30. find some drums and make some noise!
Advantages of recreational activities:
Advantages:
1. get dirty outside instead of in the bathroom/kitchen/bedroom
2. suitable for your lungs and heart-rate
3. improve mood and general attitude towards life and self and others
4. burn energy and calories without really trying – play harder! Exercise more! Just enjoy it more!
5. you don’t need money to play
6. getting outdoors makes some people feel better about life in general
7. more time spent outside means healthier kids
8. can be cheaper than other activities
9. teach self-confidence, risk-taking, perseverance, problem-solving, and a better understanding of the world
10. free play is the best way to learn
The disadvantages of recreational activities:
1. need to be in an area with no pollution and little noise
2. you might get dirty or wet or scratch yourself on a tree/rock/bramble
3. some people think it’s for young children only
4. It could be boring if you don’t know what to do
5. might involve giving up your habits
6. too much exercise might be insufficient for some people (with heart conditions, asthma, etc.)
7. Playing in the rain is not always fun!
8. bruises and scratches might hurt later, plus no one likes to get wet/cold/sunburnt/shivery
9. could get injured
10. you might need special equipment or clothes that are expensive
Mental benefits of recreational activities:
1. increase self-confidence
2. learn how to make friends and socialize
3. feel better about yourself
4. spend time with family and enjoy activities together
5. keep your mind healthy – exercise the brain as well as the body!
6. develop a sense of wonder about the world around you
7. you can be creative and try out new things
8. develop skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving…
9. you might find something you’re terrific at
10. make a map and a trail to a place you’ve never been before – if no one else is around. It’s yours to discover
11. get ideas for stories or songs or plays/pantomimes you can perform on your own
12. learn about the great outdoors, nature, and wildlife – care for things so they’ll be here when you’re older
13. have epic adventures – daydreams are fun, but sometimes you need to make them real
14. find out how strong and capable you indeed are
15. learn how to be independent and not let little things bother you
Social benefits of recreational activities:
1. exercise and play with friends and family
2. playing in a group helps everyone to feel good about themselves and others
3. it’s fun!
4. can make you smile, laugh or gain energy when you’re feeling low
5. help you learn skills like teamwork, communication, conflict management, cooperation
6. share experiences with others that are memorable – great stories to tell later
7. It can be easier to make friends if you do something fun together
8. you get time away from the TV or video games or Internet – spend more of your free time outside
9. encourage creativity and imagination
10. where else would we be? playing outside ensures the survival of our species!
Physical benefits of recreational activities:
1. get any pent-up energy out so you can focus better and stop fidgeting/jumping jacks/doodling/bouncing your leg up and down or whatever – so many nervous habits!
2. get to bed on time and sleep well if you play before dinner and then again after (before your bath)
3. can be a calming activity – nothing to break or fall over/off/out of; nothing too loud – it’s all at your own pace; no danger of running into other people or things
4. exercise strengthens the heart and lungs – better for your health overall
5. can be a way to help you learn about your body – how much it can do, what pain feels like, which muscles are strong and weak…
Benefits of recreational activities in an economy:
1. helps us appreciate things more – a great day out isn’t as special if you’ve done it over and over again
2. greater appreciation of the environment around us – something to think about when you want to have a picnic or play in the garden/local woods/forest
3. means we’re spending our money on things that bring joy, not just bare necessities
4. less time being bored – the average 10-year-old has access to over 20+ hours of entertainment a day
5. more money spent on experiences rather than things means more sustainable consumerism and happiness for all involved
6. people want to continue playing once they’re older – e.g., spending money on sport, martial arts/dance/ballet lessons or music lessons
7. can get us out of our comfort zone and teach us about the world – we live in a beautiful place, and we should enjoy it
8. mean we’ll have healthier employees when they’re older – more likely to recommend their job to others
9. more interesting work when they’re older – play is the foundation of all learning
Recreational activities can be:
1. about communication, not just how fast you react
2. relaxing rather than frustrating
3. all-encompassing rather than endless repetition or in small doses with long waits in between
4. suitable for all ages and abilities – no competition but room for improvement
5. about joy instead of just reward/goal-setting
6. inclusive rather than competitive
7. about fun rather than work, passing the time or beating a high score
8. able to be done mostly on your own but sometimes in a group – no pressure to do anything
9. practices like yoga, meditation, or Tai Chi can also be counted as recreational activities
10. for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions is just as fun!
11. you don’t have to win or learn something new every time – enjoy yourself
12. encourages physical fitness and mental well-being