4 Reasons Why Sports Make Us Happier

Gym 400x280 - 4 Reasons Why Sports Make Us Happier

Doing sports on a regular basis has numerous positive effects on our mind and our body. One of these is that sports make us happier and help us deal with bad mood and depression. 

But what does the science say about this topic? Why doing sports makes us happier and what happens in our minds and our bodies that causes that change to happen? Although scientists have managed to explain a lot of positive effects, many of them has still not been completely clear. 

Let’s check out what we know so far and why you should start doing sports on a regular basis to start feeling better about yourself.

Doing Sports Releases Happy Chemicals

There are certain chemicals released in our brain that can cause a feeling of happiness. On the other hand, the lack of these chemicals is often the cause of depression in many individuals. The most important of these happy chemicals are dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin. 

Science has shown that all three of these spike in the brain after completing a sports activity. As we age, it becomes more and more difficult for the brain to produce these chemicals. Therefore, doing sports is even more important as we grow older if we want to remain happy and content.

running 186x300 - 4 Reasons Why Sports Make Us HappierSports Give Us Energy

It might sound counter-intuitive, but it is absolutely true — doing sports will improve your energy levels. Even though you use physical energy for most sports and you might feel tired after a lot of running, jumping, or skipping, you will still feel a powerful surge of mental energy. 

Studies have shown that even a short sports activity can significantly improve our motivation, focus, and cognitive abilities. Therefore, it is a good idea to do sports in the morning, so that it can help you deal with your daily tasks more successfully. 

It Improves Your Confidence

Participating in a sports activity and being good at it will significantly improve your confidence. More often than not, being confident means that you will also be happier. Even if you are not good at the sport you are practicing, the fact that you are trying to learn and become better will also make you feel a lot more confident. Therefore, do not be afraid to try something new and start doing sports at an older age. It is never too late to be happy. 

It Helps You Make Friends

Doing team sports will make you interact with a lot of people, many of which you will probably meet for the first time. Therefore, it is a great way to make new friends, which is an important factor in feeling happy and content.

Even if you do an individual sport, you can still make new friends due to the fact that you will have the same interests and a lot of topics to talk about.