Walking v/s tennis: Which offers better mental health benefits?
What's the story
Walking and tennis are two popular physical activities that provide surprising benefits for mental health.
Although both activities are famous for their physical benefits, they also play a major role in mind wellness.
These exercises can help relieve stress, boost mood, and improve cognition.
This article discusses the unique mental health benefits of walking and tennis, and how each activity can benefit your mind.
Mood enhancement
Walking: A simple mood booster
Walking is a low-impact exercise that can be easily included in daily routines.
It has been proven to release endorphins (chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators). Doing so regularly can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by 20%.
The rhythmic nature of walking also promotes relaxation and mindfulness, enabling people to handle stress better.
Social interaction
Tennis: A social stress reliever
Along with being a physically demanding sport, tennis is a social activity that gets you talking to people.
When you play tennis, you have to communicate with your partner or opponent, which helps in making social connections that are important for mental health.
The sport can improve your self-esteem and decrease feelings of loneliness or isolation by 30%.
The competitive side of tennis also gives an outlet to pent-up emotions.
Cognitive functioning
Cognitive benefits from both activities
Both walking and tennis have been associated with improved cognitive performance.
Walking boosts blood flow to the brain, aiding memory and concentration by around 15%.
Likewise, playing tennis includes strategic thinking and rapid decision-making skills that boost brain activity.
These cognitive benefits translate to improved problem-solving skills and sharper minds.
Stress management
Stress reduction through physical activity
Engaging in physical activities such as walking or playing tennis helps reduce stress levels significantly.
These exercises promote relaxation responses in the body, such as lower cortisol levels by around 25%.
They provide an opportunity for individuals to disconnect from daily pressures.
While focusing on movement patterns, people can shift their attention away from worries or concerns about work-life balance issues they may face regularly.