Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world and people all around the world love to play whenever they get the chance. Golf is a really effective way for maintaining a healthy body, a happy mood and positive mental health. Studies have shown that around one in four people suffer from mental health problems and golf’s combination of social and physical activity can be great for those suffering from depression and anxiety. Golf has so many benefits for our physical health, but its positive effects on mental health are perhaps even more important.
This article will explain the mental health benefits of golf and how golfing can help you fight depression.
Golf is Great For Socializing
One of the major causes of depression is loneliness or feelings of isolation, but playing golf is a fantastic opportunity to meet up with people and socialize. For many golfers, their actual performance is of secondary importance compared to the social aspect of playing a round of golf with their friends or family. As well as playing golf itself, most golf courses incorporate a club house where players can eat lunch, have a drink and spend time together. Many golfers have a regular group of friends who meet once a week or once a fortnight to play and having that game to look forward to can help people to get through a stressful week. Loneliness is a really common problem for older, retired people who may not have many opportunities to meet other people after they stop working or after their partners have passed away. For older players in particular, golf can have a hugely positive effect on mental health and prevent those feelings of loneliness which so often lead to depression.
Spending Time Outdoors is Fantastic for Mental Health
Doctors suggest different products for betterment of your mental health, there are many different names and on their websites you will find reasonable prices and excellent variety of products that will help improve your mental health but numerous studies have lauded the positive effect that spending time outdoors can have on our mental health. So few of us get the opportunity to spend time outside in nature because so many of us live in cities and we are busy working in an office. The experts at TheGolfSpy.net told us that for a significant proportion of amateur golfers, the time they spend on the golf course is the only extended period of time that they regularly spend outside in nature. The mental relief from getting outside and seeing trees and grass and blue skies can give us a huge mental boost and help us to regenerate and recenter after a busy week at work. Spending that time outside is an invaluable opportunity to breathe fresh air rather than the polluted air in the city and also to get Vitamin D from the sun. As we spend most of the daytime hours inside, many of us are lacking in essential vitamin D which can seriously affect our health, immune systems and happiness. Being out in nature significantly reduces stress and anxiety and can give us the boost we need to stave off depression or other mental issues.
A Healthy Body Helps to Make a Healthy Mind
It is commonly agreed amongst scientific experts that your physical, mental and emotional health are intrinsically linked. Any activity that helps to maintain a healthy body will also have a positive effect on your mood and your overall mental health. Golf is really fantastic exercise and provides a huge number of benefits for your fitness and physical health. Golfers walk an average of seven miles per round of golf, usually carrying a heavy golf bag. This is excellent for promoting a healthy heart, good blood circulation and positive cardiovascular health as well preventing heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, golfers get a fantastic full body workout as they go through the motions of the golf swing which uses every muscle in the body. The mechanics of the golf swing as well as longer distances walked help to keep joints healthy and muscles loose and can prevent arthritis and other issues with joints and bones. When we feel good physically, we feel good mentally, and so all that exercise is really great for fighting depression, anxiety and a whole range of other mental health issues.
There are so many great reasons for playing golf and they all have a positive impact on our mental and emotional health. As well as being great physical exercise, playing golf is a fantastic opportunity for socializing and for enjoying fresh air and sunshine outside in nature. With depression such a common issue in today’s society, it is so important to find ways to prevent it and meeting up with our friends or family for a day on the links is such a fun and effective solution.
