Anyone can take up fishing. It’s the most accessible sport with no restrictions – no matter what your age and gender are, how fit your body is, and whatever your income level is, this outdoor sport does not discriminate. Anyone can take it up and enjoy the benefits of fishing.
Fishing has been linked to a happier and healthier life. We are going to explore in this article how this simple activity can help you live your best life.
Fishing May Reduce Stress
Eighty percent of adult Americans complain of suffering from stress. Roughly 40 percent of adults globally suffer from anxiety or chronic stress. These numbers or estimations are only increasing, and they show no sign of decreasing any time soon.
Studies have shown that being near water has a calming effect on the body, and it effectively lowers anxiety. The gentle lapping of waves, the sounds of the insects around the lake, and the gentle tug of the fishing line – all these can invoke a sense of calmness in your mind and relieve stress effectively.
Studies have also shown that focusing on one activity can be a quick answer to reducing stress. When you are fishing, you need to be mindful, focus on the task at hand, and observe the line and the fish to catch them. These simple tasks of being conscious can be your remedy for stress.
Fishing May Help You Get Fit
Being outdoors is great for your body; there’s no doubt about it. But, fishing can get you fit in a non-mainstream way. Fishing is not going to get you a crazy muscular body, but your overall health will thank you in the future.
So, how does fishing get you fit? First of all, to reach the best fishing spots, you need to do a bit of exercise like hiking, paddling, or biking. Ninety percent of the time, the best fishing places are in the middle of a lake or some secret spot in a calm sea. To get there, you need the right fishing boat. There are lots of fishing boats for sale, and you can easily buy one without breaking the bank. Paddling is good for your health and enjoyable as a hobby.
The walking and the paddling are obvious aerobic exercises, but fishing also requires you to use your shoulder, back, arms, core, and legs for setting up, casting off, and then winding in. If you are lucky enough, you might need to muster all your strength to wrestle with a big catch like a pike or a carp. If you keep at it, soon enough, you will start seeing results, and your body will visibly get more fit.
Fishing May Decrease Symptoms Of PTSD
With the combination of these simple forms of exercises and a mild form of mental relaxation technique, fishing is an excellent remedy for anyone who has post-traumatic stress disorder.
A study conducted in 2009 shows that participants exhibited significant improvement three days after fishing. They showed lower PTSD symptoms, and their mood improved visibly.
Forty-three percent displayed a lower level of feeling of hostility, and thirty-two percent felt reduced guilt, 30 percent reported they were less fearful afterward, and 36 percent of participants thought they were feeling less sad after fly fishing. A portion of the participants observed that the positive effects lasted almost a month afterward.
Fishing May Boost Your Immune System
When it comes to your health, there’s really no negative side to being outdoors. You get plenty of sunlight, and that can boost your immune system.
How does the sunlight boost your immune system? Vitamin D in your body regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. These two minerals improve the function of the immune system and help fight against diseases. And, where can you get plentiful of Vitamin D? You guessed it, the outdoors.
Fishing May Help You Bond With Your Family And Friends
Fishing is a skill, and many families have passed down this skill from generation to generation. Grandfathers take out their grandchildren and teach them how to hook the worm for the first time. A young child can form a sense of security and well-being by spending quality time with their family.
To grow as a person and for healthy mental well-being, we need to cultivate a sense of belonging, and family and friends are very important for this reason. When you take up fishing, you can join an angling club and become part of a like-minded community. You can make friends by sharing similar interests and creating a deep bond.
Fishing May Teach You To Be Independent And Patient
How self-reliant are we in our daily lives? From getting food from a restaurant to loading groceries in the trunk of our car, we depend on the services of others. Fishing requires you to master different skills and totally rely on yourself.
Fishing isn’t just holding a rod out in the water waiting for something to catch bait – fishing is driving your own boat, hunting down tackle, fixing a rod on your own, and calling the shots in every aspect of it. If fishing doesn’t make you self-reliant and independent, nothing will.
We live in an age of instant gratification and overstimulation. We are so used to getting everything in an instant that we forget the art of patience. Fishing can teach you to be patient and persistent.
Some days are going to be hard; you will go back empty-handed. No matter what you do, you won’t get a catch, but you give up. You will be persistent, and you will be unwilling to quit and accept defeat. Situations like this will build resilience in your character and make you a more patient person.
Not only is it a positive change for your character, but being patient is also beneficial to your health. Patience makes you calmer and content, while impatience causes raised blood pressure, stress, and weakened immune system.
Conclusion
Before you get into fishing, try to understand as much as you can about it. Read and talk to fellow like-minded individuals and get rid of any misconception that you have. If you are a beginner, invest in a starter kit and don’t feel like you have to spend a fortune to get into this hobby. Fishing is a great way to unplug from our digital lives and get closer to nature. It cuts back screen time and lets you recharge your batteries in the most natural way right whenever you can and want.
