How Swimming Improves Social & Mental Well-Being
While the physical and health benefits of swimming are often talked about, many people overlook the numerous social benefits and opportunities that swimming can bring to participants. If you’re looking to increase opportunities for socialization and improve vital social skills, swimming is a great way to do so. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways swimming pools can improve your social life.
Swimming Provides Increased Social Opportunities
For youngsters and adults alike, swimming is a great way to meet new friends and connect with those with similar interests. Swimming pools serve as a hub for all sorts of activities, social gatherings, and community activities, including:
- Swimming lessons
- Pool exercise classes
- Competitive swim teams
- Pool parties & backyard barbecues
- Community pools
- Water parks
All these activities and locations provide a way to meet new people year-round in a fun, no-pressure situation. These activities also provide for natural conversation starters, which can help you break the ice and avoid awkward silences that can happen when meeting new people.
Swimming Fosters Valuable Teamwork and Leadership Skills
If you’re a part of a competitive swim team, or even just having fun playing family-friendly pool games in your backyard, you’re automatically learning how to work as a team to accomplish a shared goal. Understanding how to work alongside people who are different than you, following directions, and leading a team are social skills necessary for success at work, school, and at home.
Swimming is a great way to get all the leadership and life skills that come from being a part of an athletic team without many of the physical risks that come from full-contact sports.
Swimming Boosts Confidence
Swimming has been linked to helping boost confidence in numerous ways.
- Look good, feel good. The physical benefits of swimming help people feel better about their bodies, which in turn makes them more comfortable in their own skin and confident in themselves.
- Reaching goals. Setting and reaching their physical and personal goals, such as mastering a difficult stroke/dive, losing weight, or leading your swim team to victory, often serves as a confidence booster for swimmers.
- Finding your niche. In general, participating in activities you enjoy, investing in a hobby, and feeling like you belong to a social circle helps you become more well-rounded and confident.
Confidence and high self-worth is a key component in almost all areas of life, from relationship-building to succeeding in the workplace. Swimming can be a great way for people of all ages to build confidence by reaching personal goals, connecting with others, and feeling a sense of purpose.
If you or your child are struggling to make friends, get in shape, or find an enjoyable social activity, maybe it’s time to give swimming a try.
Of course, swimming is much more fun & social when you have great pool toys and floats to use when enjoying the water. We’ve got you covered there…
Last updated 11/23/2020