Some recreational activities require more effort than others. However, that does not mean that they are healthier. In fact, some of the best recreational activities that you need to practice in order to improve your overall health levels do not require you to buy a lot of equipment.
Most of them are as simple as running. However, there is one important factor here – motivation. If the activity has some goal which is immediate (such as to score a point), you are more likely to engage more and return to that activity.
Let’s take a look at some of the healthiest recreational activities that you could do.
Ping Pong
Ping Pong indeed seems just like standing in one place and hitting the small ball over the table. But it also requires great mental strength and discipline. Furthermore, the goal is achieved almost immediately, and there are a lot of sudden emotions involved here which means that you will return to it whenever you can.
Beach Volleyball
Every sport played on the sand is more difficult than on the firm ground. Your legs must work twice as more on the sand, and this means that your whole body spends more energy. If you add constant jumping and arm-work to it – you get a perfect sport for a summer holiday which will make you fall in love with it – Beach Volleyball.
Swimming in Open Water
Swimming is generally considered an activity that activates every single muscle in your body and does something really interesting to them – it does not necessarily make them bigger, but it makes them stronger and more developed.
Running
Running is the standard type of outdoor activity, but it is somehow the most effective one. Contrary to popular belief, running does not only strengthen legs. In fact, it strengthens the whole body, and every muscle is activated during this activity. However, the thing that running lacks is the immediate goal which team sports and ball sports have – the same is for swimming.
However, if you are a type of person that can be motivated by long-term goals (weight loss, running a half-marathon,) then running is the ideal activity for you.
Gym
Going to the gym is definitely the most popular recreational activity, and its effectiveness lies in the fact that all of the things in the gym are specifically designed for building muscle and improving overall health. If you are not the type of person that likes to go on a morning run and enjoys staying indoors, the gym is the perfect choice for you.
Conclusion
It all comes down to what you actually want to do with your body. Every type of recreational activity is healthier than just sitting and doing nothing. Therefore, if you are a competitive person and like to play sports, then any kind of sport will do, but the ones listed here are scientifically proven to have a better effect to you overall than the sports not mentioned here.
On the other hand, if you like doing everything on your own and competition is out of the question, you might want to consider the last three choices – activities that you can do alone. Just remember to stretch and warm up before you begin with your exercise and keep track of your activity on platforms such as Google Fit.
