Mental Health Mindsets Swimming Helps You Develop
Much like other forms of exercise and physical activity, swimming offers a ton of benefits to those who do it regularly. There are the physical benefits, including increased strength, endurance, and overall fitness. The benefits of swimming aren’t limited to just the physical though. Swimming can help you develop some mindsets that are beneficial to your mental health.
Being Growth-Oriented
No one starts out as a perfect swimmer. Even the little children sometimes referred to affectionately as being little fishies still have plenty to learn and improve on. Because you’ll be constantly seeking to improve and grow, you learn to develop a growth-oriented mindset. Learning to appreciate the journey becomes normal as the destination continues to advance. As you develop a growth-oriented mindset, you’ll be less bothered by how you compare to others and more concerned with the progress you’ve made yourself.
Understanding Your Limits
There are a lot of aspects of safe swimming that swimmers would do well to develop a keen understanding of. One of those is what your limits are. Sure, it’s often a good thing to push yourself to improve. That said, if you push yourself too far when it comes to swimming, you put yourself in grave danger. Learning to understand where your limits are keeps you safe in the water and helps you set valuable boundaries in other aspects of your life. This ends up being a valuable tool that can help you lead a much happier life.
Sharpening Focus
There’s a certain amount of focus that swimming requires. You need to focus on what your body is doing in relation to itself and the surrounding water. You need to focus on what your instructor is telling you so you can improve. You need to be focused on and aware of your surroundings to stay safe. As with anything, the more you practice something, the more natural it becomes. That focus you develop as you swim can serve you well as you learn to tune out unnecessary distractions and listen to what your body and your surroundings are telling you.
Everyone could use a boost to their mental health. Swimming can help you develop a growth-oriented mindset, understand your limits, and sharpen your focus. When combined with the other mental health benefits and the physical benefits associated with swimming, the question of whether or not you should start becomes much easier to answer.
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