People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.
In our current culture, we tend to take recreation for granted. We may even dismiss it as frivolous. It is easily to pushed aside as something that should be limited to when we have “free time.” But in reality, it is imperative and should remain a valuable priority. It provides a balance to our lives and is a contributing component to our health and well-being.
Research indicates that those who participate in recreational activities lead healthier and happier lives. An active lifestyle promotes better overall physical fitness, mental stimulation, and emotional health. Research has shown that people who make time for recreation have a decreased occurrence of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular complications. Recreation lowers cancer risk, increases bone mass, and increases immune function.
Even though research indicates that an active lifestyle promotes such significant health benefits, inactivity continues to cause our society to fall victim to chronic disease, illness, and mortality. We place higher value on work over play. This contributes to increased healthcare costs and a decrease in overall wellness.
We must posit that recreational activity is much more important than a leisurely afterthought meant only for free time. There are direct correlations between recreation and decreased mood disorders, increased self-esteem, improved psychosocial health, better sleep, and more energy.
Any wonder why it’s called RE-CREATION?
