Surprising Benefits of Watching Sports
Watching sports is a great way to pass a quiet Saturday afternoon. It might be something that you look forward to doing with friends and even go out to do. For some people, watching sports is casual. They watch them when they are on, but aren’t that bothered. Other people watch as much as they can. They have their favorite sports that they schedule a time for. They get snacks, invite friends over or clear their schedule so that they can watch games without interruption. They might get really into it, shouting at the screen, kicking every ball or taking every catch right along there with the team that they love. There are also people that will watch any sport, whether it is something that they love, a team that they support, or something that they have never seen before. People that just love sport, and will happily pass an afternoon watching.
There’s a huge stereotype around people that watch sports at home. We assume that these people are armchair fans that never go to a game or play sports themselves. You picture couch potatoes, sitting around in their sweats, pigging out and barely moving.
But, this isn’t often correct. While it’s true that some casual sports viewers have very little interest outside of watching the odd game on TV, for many keen sports viewers, there are several, sometimes surprising benefits to watching sport on TV. Here’s a look at some of them.
It Could Improve Your Math Skills
When you watch sports, you might find that you often take an interest in statistics, scores, and other facts and figures. You might want to learn more about the most expensive transfers, and understand more about the finances. You might also spend time researching statistics, odds, and trying to work out scores and points quickly during games. Sometimes, this might be quite basic math, but it can also be much more complex, and test math skills that you might not use too much in your day-to-day life. This can give your mind a fantastic boost, keeping it active even when you are doing something that you love and don’t realise it.
Sports Can Test Your Memory
As we get older, our memories start to age as well as our bodies. It’s all too normal to find that we begin to forget names, directions or where things are much sooner than we might imagine, and these periods of forgetfulness occur more frequently and get more serious, the older that we get.
If you are lucky, these slips might be annoying, but they won’t affect your health or quality of life. But, for many people, it is much more than this. In the US, 45% of people aged 65 and over suffer from memory impairment, which sometimes becomes dementia or a related condition.
Now, I’m not saying that watching a bit of football on TV will prevent dementia. But, to keep your mind strong, just like your body, it needs a workout.
Watching sports can test your memory, and give you something different to think about. You’ll spend time remembering different games, matches, meetings or players. As you are watching, memories will come flooding back, and you will push yourself to remember more. You may also associate these memories with others, and with the feelings that come with them—remembering places, people, sounds and smells. All of which can be an excellent memory boost.
You’ll Make New Friends
Playing sports, especially as part of a team or club, is a great way to meet new people and become a part of a wider community. But, watching them can be too. You might attend live events sometimes, or visit bars to watch instead of watching at home alone. You’ll speak to people at these events because you know that you have a shared interest and something in common before you even speak. There’s a connection, you are all part of something bigger.
Even if you watch at home alone, you may talk about sports online, in forums and groups or on social media. Many people look down upon online relationships, but they can be important and offer valuable support when you need it the most. When you watch sports, you never have to be lonely, because you are part of something.
It Gives You Something To Look Forward To
Having something to look forward to can be a big boost for your mental health and mood. It can keep you going during hard weeks and when things aren’t going well. Watching sports is cheap, or even free, easy, and something that you can do at home. It’s something that you enjoy, and that makes you happy. It might seem small, but having this appointment with your sports team to look forward to can improve your week significantly.
Watching Sports Could Boost Your Mental Health
Our mental health is a fragile thing, and sports can help. Having something to look forward to is the first way that sports can boost yours, but certainly not the only way. As you cheer and shout at the screen, you receive an adrenaline hit and burn off some negative energy and stress. Your mood improves, you have fun, and your levels of tension reduce. It’s an easy way to better mental health.
Sports Can Improve Your Relationships
Watching sports with your family and friends is a fantastic way to bond. You might not get that much time together if you are all busy with work, school, exercise and other hobbies. It might be hard to all get together for more than a few minutes, and when you do, you might not want to be around loads of other people in a crowd.
Opening some snacks and getting comfortable to watch your favorite sports is an easy way to spend time together without having to go anywhere, commit a lot of your time or spend money. There’s no pressure, it’s easy, and it’s an especially great way to bond with kids and younger relatives, who you might not have much in common with or other easy ways to connect with.
If You Love Watching Sports You Are More Likely to Participate
People that enjoy watching sports are more likely to have a go themselves. Your favorite athletes and players might inspire you, you might want to improve your fitness to be more like them. You might want to see if you can play the game that you love so much. Even if you are awful at it, you might enjoy trying, and feel closer to the action.
You Might Lose Weight
Many of us are struggling with our weight, and it only seems to get worse as we get older. While watching sports doesn’t always have a great impact on your health and fitness, it can, if you use it well. Get stuck in, have a go, go to live games and jump up and down instead of watching from your sofa. Even walking to a bar to watch a match could help. Remember, all movement counts.
You’ll Learn How to Lose
Learning to lose is an important skill, but not something that we’re all very good at. Unfortunately, we all lose sometimes, and being able to deal with it well is crucial. Watching sports means that you will inevitably feel loss at some point, which, while it might not seem like it at the time, can be good for you.
So, next time you settle down for a big night watching your favorite team on TV, don’t feel guilty. It might actually be good for you.