Two focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. Fishing is underrated sport many people have no knowledge of. It can fuel the competitive spirit and provide therapeutic benefits as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Get “Reel!” How Fishing Can Really Improve Your Life.
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It’s one of those pastimes that is tranquil and challenging in equal measure. Fishing is good for you in so many ways. Let’s show you some of the benefits of fishing, and why you should start bringing this very simple thing into your life.
It Improves Your Concentration
There’s a lot at stake when you go fishing. You start to take notice of the environment; you need to make sure that you are in the right spots to get a catch, but also, you start to think in a more lateral sense. You are trying to ensnare a fish using a multitude of gadgets, not just rods and bait, but fish lights, dock lights, lures, bobbers, sinkers, and the list goes on! When you invest in the various tools it takes to trap a fish, it forces you to start thinking differently. And in a very basic sense, when you spend time in nature, it’s going to make changes to your brain and improve your levels of concentration. Who would have thought that fishing can make you cleverer?
It Keeps You Fit
We think of fishing as this solitary, yet lazy pursuit. However, it is one of the great ways to give your muscle groups a workout. You could make things a bit more challenging for yourself by choosing a fishing spot that is far away from the car, which gives you an aerobic boost but also the tasks of setting up the gear, casting off, and winding in fish require you to strengthen up. And this is just for the smaller fish. If you are trying to reel in a pike or a carp, you’ve really got to engage your back, arms, legs, and core or you won’t get anything! If you are someone who doesn’t really like hitting the gym, just go fishing every day, because it’s a fantastic way to strengthen that mind-muscle connection, developing strength that everybody has within them. While it won’t give you definition on your muscles, that’s something that you can fix later on, you’ve got to have the strength first if you really want to get fit, so get fishing!
It Teaches You New Knowledge and Skills
Fishing and activities on the water can consistently widen your knowledge and improve your skills in various areas. You’re going to have to learn a lot to maintain a boat, sail it out onto the water and to actually catch a fish. From understanding ultrasonic antifouling to which bait is best, this is going to be one big and exciting learning curve. It will prove greatly rewarding in the end.
It Improves Your Self-Esteem
Probably the most important reason we should all go fishing is about setting up goals in life. Fishing is the very essence of setting yourself a challenge and meeting the demands. When you achieve those goals, you are going to improve your self-esteem. Because it’s a wonderful skill that you learn and improve on, combined with solitary practice, it helps you to work through certain emotional problems in your life. And when you spend time with someone you love quietly on the water, it becomes a shared experience that promotes feelings of well-being and security.
Your mind is as important to your health as your body, and if you are looking for some form of pastime that is away from the gym, gives you challenges, mentally and physically, fishing is undoubtedly one of the best out there. It’s not just for people on approach to retirement! If you find yourself struggling with the modern world, unplug, suit up and get reeling!
