LESSON 2 IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

All Work and no Play make Jack a dull boy” goes a popular saying

In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, where students are compelled by both their parents, the
society and circumstances as a whole to devote growing hours to academic study, and knowledge-
enhancing practices in order to remain ahead in the rat race, the importance of this saying has grown
manifold. When you consider the current way of living, where most people live in small nuclear homes
with both parents working, or lost their jobs, the viability of our own home as a place to spend leisure
time has declined.

In lesson one, we learned that recreation refers to recreational activities that are normaly selected
willingly by the participant-either for the satisfaction, pleasure, or artistic enrichment they provide, or
whether he perceives such personal or social values to be obtained by them. It may also be thought of
as the act of participating or the mental state that results from it.

Prior to the pandemic, students in higher education spent the most of their time with college friends
and outside of the house. As a result, rather than at home, the safest place to have leisure opportunities
in one’s life is school. This not only allows students to incorporate leisure into their lives, but it also
allows them to socialize and become less dependent on their parents. However, with the present
situation of being quarantined and forced to stay at home, the viability of performing leisure activities at
home is severely harmed.

Due to the intricacies in present day society and the way of living in this time of pandemic, students
nowadays are weaker than their older generations, both physically and emotionally. This is mirrored in
their physical, social, and mental health, as well as their actions and growth, implying that physical
activities and recreations be given the attention they deserve. Various findings have shown the
relevance of recreations in one’s life in three areas: physical fitness, mental health, and enhancing one’s
quality of life.

Physical Health: Recreational exercises, especially those that take place outdoors, support one’s health
by lowering body fat ratios. Lowering blood and cholesterol levels, and enhancing muscle strength,
stability, muscular stamina, body structure, and cardiovascular endurance. Overall, it boosts one’s
resilience and energy, allowing them to concentrate more on school tasks while also improving class
performance and interest, resulting in more learning. And as we all know “health is wealth”.

Mental Health: Overall physical and mental wellbeing are intertwined. Stress may be reduced when
participating in recreational activities. It allows one to nurture oneself while still providing a sense of
equilibrium and self-esteem, both of which can help to alleviate anxiety and depression. There is also a
greater willingness to study and it can be used as a laboratory for bringing what is taught in the
classroom into reality. It facilitates cognitive maturity and endurance by providing a channel for
releasing stress and anxiety. Students become more self-reliant, emphatic, and self-disciplined as a
result of those practices.

Improved Quality of Life: People who value fitness are more likely to be happy with their lives.
Recreational practices aid in the maintenance of a healthy equilibrium between academic demands and
physical and emotional well-being. Recreation has a number of effects. It increases self-expression, self-
fulfillment, leadership skills, recreation strategies and practices, physical power, artistic expression, and
visual meaning. Such characteristics benefit people who face limitations in their daily lives. As a result,
recreation can be used as a therapeutic instrument (Lee, 2000). Physical activity-based recreation aids in
the recovery of participants’ physical strength, which has weakened due to a lack of exercise and
physical activities, as well as the development of their innate capacity to attain self-realization. This
actually makes people more optimistic and gives them a better perspective on life, which lets them cope
with everyday day-to-day issues more efficiently. Overall, recreational programs can be seen to assist in
the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of students. It not only aids in the gathering of knowledge,
but also in the ethical application of that knowledge in order to live a healthier and happier life,
particularly in this time of pandemic. It helps people to think rationally and live in a more practical
attitude. It also boosts one’s overall growth, assisting one in finding achievement in one’s endeavors.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF RECREATION

Recreation has many advantages that have been confirmed and verified by clinical evidence that shows
the advantages of leisure and recreation. Because your fitness includes your physical, physiological,
mental, social, and moral well-being, these advantages can be extended in various aspects of life,
regardless of the leisure behaviors you engage in.

A. Personal Health Benefits of Recreation

1. Longer Life Expectancy- A statistical study found that recreational activities contribute
to a longer life expectancy. The study included older women with an average age of 79
years, and the findings revealed that women who exercised or performed a low level of
physical activity lived up to eight years longer than those who did not. Another research
found that those with heart failure who exercised had a lower chance of dying
prematurely than someone who did not exercise. As a result, it’s vital to prioritize
recreation and incorporate some form of physical activity in everyday routine.
2. Improved Heart Health- Another unique advantage of recreation is having a strong
functioning and stable heart, which can be accomplished by participating in outdoor
activity with reasonable aerobic workouts. This study of older adults found that
maintaining a moderate level of physical exercise, avoiding being overweight (obese),
and not smoking can decrease the risk of heart disease by half. And if you are older,
there are many outdoor opportunities that will help you do this. Everything you have to
do now is find something that can keep you busy and break any habits that are harmful
to your health.
3. Prevents Bone Disease- Teenagers that are less healthy have smaller bones, according
to research. This may have long-term implications in their adult lives, as many of the
challenges that most elderly people face can be tracked back in their lives. It is
important to participate in any sort of physical exercise when you are already emerging
as an infant or a teenager and now is the best way to correct some of these flaws before
they become an issue later in life.
 4. Reduces Chronic Diseases- According to a study, higher levels of physical activity was
related to a reduced risk of diabetes. This may mean that if you participate in outdoor
sports that have any physical exercise, you’re less likely to develop diabetes. People who
also have diabetes are still advised to eat well and participate in physical exercise in
order to keep their diabetes under check.
5. Reduces Obesity- Obesity is a major concern for almost everyone, particularly during
the quarantine period, when most Filipinos are sedentary. According to a report,
children who do not have easy access to parks and playgrounds in their communities are
more likely to experience obesity than children who do have easy access to parks and
playgrounds in their neighborhoods. Recreational activity is important in lowering
obesity rates and is a very effective and cost-effective way to fight obesity, especially in
children.

B. Psychological Benefits of Recreation

6. Reduces Stress and Depression- Another value in recreation is how it affects emotional
function. A research study conducted in Sweden found that moderate and intense activity had a
substantial effect on reducing the intensity of depression. As a result, it is important that
you partake in recreational activities to improve your mental health and lower your risk of
depression. This is critical because mental health is an important component of general well-
being, and any problems with your mental health will potentially impact all aspects of your life.

7. Create Opportunities for Life-Long Learning. The effect of sports activity on academic success
among undergraduate students was studied in Spain. The findings of the study revealed that
students who participate in sports receive higher grades in their academic achievement. Related
observations have been confirmed in other research, highlighting the relevance
(benefits) of leisure sports.

8. Enhance Emotional Health- Emotional wellness is a vital part of everyone’s well-being,

especially of people facing many problems with their emotional health, which require a great
deal of strength and bravery to resolve. Participation of athletics, fitness, and recreation has a
positive effect on the self-esteem and quality of life of students, according to a survey. This also
demonstrates another vital advantage of recreation: maintaining a very optimistic outlook
towards oneself.

C. Social Benefits of Recreation

9. Reduces Crime- The potential of outdoor activity to minimize young people’s participation in
violence is one of the benefits of leisure. Young adults who participate in sporting activity are less
likely to commit crimes, according to a review paper on reducing juvenile violence through sports
services.

10. Reduces Isolation and Loneliness- Isolation, which is also accompanied by depression, is one of
the early indicators of individuals who may have psychiatric or mental health problems. In our
current situation, students are profoundly impacted by the developments brought on by the
pandemic and parents who have lost their jobs. To overcome stress, students need an outlet and
recreational activities can be one of the best options.

11. Binds and Keep Families Together- Another significant advantage in leisure is that it encourages
families to unite. This may be a perfect option for families that are having problems in family
relationships. Family interest in leisure activity has been linked to higher levels of family happiness,
engagement, and cohesion, according to research. This could be a suitable choice for any family who
is facing difficulties.

D. Environmental Benefits of Recreation

12. Decreases Demand for Social Services and Costs- One of the most pressing issues that many
policymakers at all levels face is the and cost of delivering basic services such as healthcare and
transportation. Many governments are concerned about this, especially those with limited budgets
and conflicting interests. Promotion of outdoor sports, once again, could be one of the most
promising alternatives to such problems. This recreation advantage is focused on the fact that more
people engaging in recreational physical activity such as biking, bicycling, Sports, and other related
events would contribute to a healthier community, which would result in lower healthcare costs.
Furthermore, if more residents use alternate modes of transportation such as bicycling, there would
be less need for public transportation systems, which may result in cost savings.

Activity 3: MINDMAPS ( 40 pts)

Directions: Come up with two Mind maps. One is a Mind map for the benefits of recreation and
another Mind map for the impact of recreation in your life in this time of pandemic.