LEISURE ACTIVITY
INTRODUCTION
Leisure activity is an activity done specifically for enjoyment, relaxation and most probably for emotional satisfaction. This kind of activities is done typically after work or any other responsibilities that one is committed to. It can also be defined as a free time that you spend doing what you enjoy most aside from our daily to daily activities like business, studies, and domestic chores. These activities are very important to us because they have positive impacts on our lives. They help us to be more physically, psychologically and emotionally fit. Examples of leisure activities include; Book reading, horseback riding, hiking, cooking, swimming, bullfighting, and many others.
Leisure activities are very many and in this case, I have just listed some of the few activities that people always engage themselves in and some of their benefits. Considering how this is so beneficial to us I came up with an idea of creating an extra leisure activity. This type of activity is called ANIMAL CAREGIVING.
ANIMAL CAREGIVING
This is a type of activity that involves taking care of animals and interacting with them be it domestic or wild animals. Being with animals is a lot of fun and excitement, it also has a lot of benefits both on animals and human beings in that it improves both their physical, emotional and psychological health. It is a good activity since animals just as human beings need proper care, love and attention. People tend to forget about them forgetting they are also part of our lives. Another benefits of being of animals in the park especially the birds is so good more so when it comes to stress reliving, watching the birds sing has a lot of therapeutic benefits. Animals like dogs and cats are good human companions, they protect and help us cope with loneliness.
BENEFITS OF THIS ACTIVITY AS PART OF LEISURE ACTIVITY
Being an animal caregiver is good for ones emotional, physical and mental health it is scientifically proven that spending time with animals helps in lowering stress levels and blood pressure. These animals provide companionship hence decreasing loneliness by encouraging exercise and playfulness by the affection they give.
They increase social interaction; Animals encourage social interaction both emotional health and cognitive behaviour. People tend to respond both visually and verbally more to their pets. They Also Have a calming effect since they offer comfort and ease anxiety. Playing with the animal can raise the level of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine which stimulate relaxation.
Enhances the immune system; This kind of exercise can prevent the body from chronic illness such as diabetes, cancer and arthritis. Being physically fit the body will reject such diseases.
Leisure also improves memory; It enables one to have a mental ability so that they can easily solve problems. It also promotes mental stimulation where one will be able to complete his or her task.
It also reduces stress; most people enjoy playing games hence playing with animals especially their young ones can help in relieving stress in someone’s life, it also creates an atmosphere where one can easily reduce stress.
Improves flexibility; this is where a person moves from one place to the other, by moving one will stretch his or her muscles hence improves flexibility. Like when walking around when handling animals, involving
in such task will enable one to have strong muscles and joints hence promotes flexibility.
CONCLUSION
Leisure activities are therefore very beneficial to us in many ways and it is so important that we indulge ourselves in these activities to have a meaningful life .taking part in these activities can change ones way of doing, seeing and handling things especially when it comes to our health hence it natures us both psychologically, socially and emotionally. These activities are also important in that it helps one to identify his or her talent and skills and this enables us to improve our normal day to day activities aside from these leisure ones.