Benefits Of Recreation

Recreation can mean different things to different people, but it is, for sure, a refreshing break from monotony. Recreation refers to the free time that people can spend away from their everyday responsibilities (e.g. work and domestic tasks) that are meant to be a source of joy, provide relaxation to one’s mind and body, and enjoy life. We all need a break from work; we need to break from our mundane routine and refresh ourselves by indulging in recreational activities. Recreation is meant to serve as a relaxing break from our hectic schedule; it is meant to serve as the means to rejuvenate ourselves. Participation in recreation and sports activities can have many benefits for both the individual and community.

Key Benefits of Recreation

Sport and recreation can be used as a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures, religions, ages and abilities together for enjoyment. This helps develop strong communities and strengthens social bonding. Recreational Activities also aims at providing you with an opportunity to engage with special people in your life. An outing with your family or a picnic with close friends refreshes not only your mind and body, but also your relationship with your dear ones. (SOCIAL BENEFITS);
Sport and recreational activities can empower people by positively influencing their creative expression, enhance self-esteem, increase personal confidence and self-awareness of their strengths and abilities. (DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY);
Sport and recreational activities are an enjoyable and effective way to improve health and well-being. They can relieve stress, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, refresh the senses, help you relax, increase fitness, and improves quality of life (HEALTH AND WELL BEING);
Participation in recreation and sports activities improve concentration, memory and brain development, motor learning, understanding game directions, along with performing a skill are some of the many skills that can be developed. (SKILL DEVELOPMENT).
Allows you to switch off from your daily routine and gives you a chance to do what you like. A great balance between work and play. Gives u a chance to do what you love to. A great way to rejuvenate yourself. Engaging in an activity you like (be it gaming, chatting with friends, writing, photography, or any other) helps you fight boredom. (EFFECTIVE TIME UTILIZATION)
Recreation in the form of group activities or team games helps build teamwork and also develops planning and organizing skills. Such activities help in the enhancement of interpersonal skills as well. (TEAMWORK – A SENSE OF BELONGING)
Many recreational activities take you close to nature. The company of nature always proves to be an excellent relaxation to the mind and body. Spending time watching the night sky, lazing around on a beach, walking in the woods, or just being in the proximity of nature in some quiet place in the countryside freshens the mind and is healthy for the body.
Many life skills can be taught through recreation. For example:
- RESPECT– Respect your peers, your leaders, the equipment, and the facility
- TEAMWORK– Work together and encourage your teammates towards a common goal
- INCLUSION– We are all different and those differences bring joy to our lives… differences make the world interesting
- LEADERSHIP– Lead by example with a positive attitude and enthusiasm…value the team
- SPORTSMANSHIP– Compete against yourself, not others…it’s about the love of the game, not winning.

Importance of Recreation

Helps you relax
Refresh the Senses
Helps you relax
New Avenues
Refills the energy
Improve Quality of Life
Effective Time Utilization
Physiology – Balance between work and play
Peace & Development – sport is a universal language that can be used as a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance & understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures & religions.
Empowerment – recreation and sports activities can empower people by positively influencing their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Impact your health – recreation and sports activities are an enjoyable and effective way to improve health and well-being; they can relieve stress, increase fitness, improve physical and mental health, and improves quality of life;
Sharpen Skills – physical and social skills are some of the many skills that can be developed through participation in recreation and sports activities;
Local economic development

Objectives of Recreation

Personal fulfillment
Enhanced human relations
Leisure skills and interests
Health and fitness
Creative expression
Environment for living in a leisure society

Types of Recreation

Recreation is of two types; passive and active. Recreational activities can also be classified as indoor and outdoor ones. Recreation can be done in two ways; one can recreate in a group or recreate alone. Group recreational activities include team games, group travel and sports. To recreate alone, one can engage in one’s own hobby, turn to sources of entertainment (playing video games, web browsing, reading, watching movies) or travel solo.

Recreation can be an activity that requires the use of special facilities, courses, fields, or equipment. Some examples are Baseball, Football, Soccer, Golf, Hockey, Tennis, Skiing;
Recreation also includes activities that do not require prepared facilities like sports fields or pavilions. Some examples are Camping, Hiking, Wildlife viewing, Picnicking, Walking, Bird watching;
Recreational activities can be sedentary in nature, like knitting, chess, playing musical instruments, or reading books;
Recreation can also be active and enhance physical fitness and wellbeing. Some examples of active recreation include walking, skiing, dancing, bowling, hiking, rock climbing, boating, bicycling, and weightlifting;
Recreational sports are those activities where the primary purpose of the activity is participation, with the related goals of improved physical fitness, fun, and social involvement often prominent.
Recreation can involve creating, sharing, contributing to the lives of others, or developing skills;
Recreation does not have to involve interaction with others or widening your skillset;
Recreation can be either individual or group;
Recreation can be public in nature designed for all ages. Examples are playgrounds, campgrounds, parks;
Recreation can be commercial. These are offered for profit on a fee basis. Some examples are theme parks, gyms, golf courses;
Recreation can be commercial. These are offered for profit on a fee basis. Some examples are theme parks, gyms, golf courses;
Recreation can be activities sponsored by companies and organizations. Some examples would be team sponsors, golf outings; fun days;
Recreation can be therapeutic in nature and offered by public or private agencies for the benefit of specific people. Some examples could be physical therapy, rehab.