healthy society: Sociological and Physiological Benefits

Is it true that health and leisure are interdependent concerns for a healthy society? Describe the sociological and physiological benefits of a positive health and leisure program, and then apply this to work. What is the connection between recreation, work, and health?
Introduction
Leisure is the free time that people have after working hard hours. People can do whatever they choose with their leisure time. After work, entertainment gives the finest time for people to enjoy life to the fullest. Everyone needs time to relax. It gives people the respite from the drudgery and monotony of the routine duties that take much of their time. People are currently living in a world that is currently facing the problem of modernity at each point. Our lives have transformed to become quite busy, so fast that people always remain under pressure and in a hurry to work. At the current economic time leisure plays a significant role in bringing an immense joy and even relaxes people. Obviously, life is not worth living without setting aside days when people can find leisure. People should have some time for their hobbies which may be singing, painting, gardening, dancing and any anything else that rejuvenates people and sets a tone for the work ahead. Leisure time might never come frequently for most people, and it should, therefore, be used wisely (Azaiza, Rimmerman, Croitoru & Naon, 2009). People need to spend their leisure time on those activities that live them rejuvenated and feeling empowered with a sense of accomplishment. Leisure activities motivate people to reflect on their goals and even set newer milestones.





Leisure relationship to health

Leisure and recreation activities might be one of the solutions to the increasing medical expenses. They may be some of the best investment in a satisfactory lifestyle and health. In a period when the medical costs continue to rise beyond the people’s ability to pay, the money that is spent on maintaining a healthy lifestyle pays dividends and its worth. Based on the data provided by the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration, the predictable cost of health per each which is 5500 dollars could significantly be reduced if people start paying attention to healthy living standards than on the treatment of various ailments (Buswell, Zabriskie, Lundberg & Hawkins, 2012). This importance of leisure, physical and recreation activities to an individual’s well-being were first observed by scholars in ancient Greece and Egypt. The Greek observed that recreation was critical in their learning as well as good health. The Egyptians noted that recreation was essential for an individual’s recovery from trauma and illness.

The current society has laid to much hope and trust in the medical professionals seeing them as the sole healthcare professionals when in a real sense they are mainly concerned with ill treatment and not with the development and maintenance of good health. Life expectancy is particularly affected by illness treatment, exercise and proper nutrition rather through the treatment of various diseases. Good health results from having good health habits and living in a healthy environment, one in which people participate in leisure activities and also have fun. Involvement in the active form of recreational activities is one of the guarantees to fitness as well as health. Successful aging and leisure are also interrelated, those senior citizens who live longer participate in the community life and remain homes longer. The economic benefits of participating in recreational activities are pretty obvious, the increase in the independence and vitality of people as they reduce costs. When the government invests in recreation and parks, they indirectly invest in the health of its citizens. Parks are more than the aesthetic environment, they are places for escaping confinements of high rise apartments and tenement housing, socializing and relaxing (Roberts, 2011). The military and industries have already embraced the idea of exercise and recreation as a critical part of keeping people fit, as a mean of increasing productivity and maintaining morale. The recreational and leisure activities enable individuals to be in control of something which provides them with satisfaction and meaning. They reinforce self-confidence and enhance self-esteem.

The leisure and recreational facilities are active forces in the management of stress which reduces the need for psychiatric counselling and the doctor’s office visit. This is not a surprise that in those companies that provide employees with fitness and wellness program have the lowest cost of medical and healthcare insurance (Borodai, 2017). Thirty minutes of workout on a daily basis can lower one's cholesterol level and blood pressure. Having regular exercise also has the capability of managing and preventing osteoporosis and reduces the cases of depression. The bottom line remains that health, leisure, and health are interrelated. A massive investment in leisure, recreation and park services pays handsome, healthy dividends. They reduce the need for treatment and medical care while contributing to our well-being. The state of human health is fundamentally determined by how they spend their time on daily basis. The incorporation of leisure and recreation on as part of the daily routine not only increases the level of pleasure but also helps ensure that people live a long healthy life. Human being naturally needs leisure time to recover from stress from daily living and of work.

There is evidence that leisure activities have an impact on the person’s health. It is important that recreational activities are available across the entire population. People should be encouraged to engage health activities in improving their wellbeing. The successful aging can be seen as a lifelong process that can be modified through participating in the various leisure activities available at our disposal. The leisure time gives people a break from the busy daily routine and helps strike a balance between life and work. People should always select a daily routine based on the work they do. Mental rest is essential for the individuals who engage in the mental straining activities and the physical work is necessary or those individuals who renege in mental rest.

Sociological and Physiological Benefits

Despite the fact that all individuals are aware of the benefits and the needs of leisure, it is not until something goes wrong with our relationship and health that we start thinking about it. The essence of leisure is slowly starting to be witnessed with many institutions beginning to regulate overworking and over time and encouraging employees to take time off during holidays and weekends. Many agencies no longer support late nights but help the staff to check in and out at the right moment (Borodai, 2017). Leisure activities have numerous benefits on an individual’s health; this is because people use the available leisure time to engage in activities that relieve stress such as exercises.

Exercise has been proven to provide numerous health benefits, for instance, improving the neurological and spinal problems, reducing hypertensions and the level of cholesterol and the cardiovascular benefits. The entertainment activities also play a significant role in improving social interaction and communication, bringing about positive changes in an individual’s attitude, soothing the body and mind, reducing tension and relieving stress. This psychological changes also constructively impact an individual physical health. Leisure activities have the capacity of strengthening the family bond. Setting a side sometimes for recreation ensures that you have an adequate time to spend with the family. Setting aside some time for leisure activities ensures that people spend some time with other members of the society. This integration adds up to the new meaning of life since it brings about social cohesion. Although indirectly, leisure activities positively contribute to the environmental protection and therefore grantees a long-term survival of the earth. The need for the recreational avenues compels people to be contrite protecting the environment. For that reason, leisure activities not only ensures that the body is healthy, the relationship is strong it also positively contributes to the economy and the environment.

For adolescents participating in the leisure activities increases self-esteem. The more time the youngsters participate in the leisure activities, for instance, sports the more they enhance their self-esteem. The increases in the self-image and self-esteem felt by adolescents may be associated with the increased sense of belonging and the growing feeling of self-efficacy and mastering. Participating in the leisure related activities by youths held them understand themselves and increases their body awareness a factor that positively contributes to self-esteem (Borodai, 2017). The participation in the physical activities increases the positive well-being, for instance, the psychological well-being. In the sporting team, for example, the emphasis on the peer interaction relates back to a person’s psychological well-being and self-esteem. The benefits that are associated with participating in the various leisure activities can be felt after the person has engaged in for some time. One of the major advantage being the increased psychological well-being; this relates to an individual increased coping mechanism, achievement, contentment, happiness and a sense of life satisfaction. The recreation facilities should take place with a longer period to help the adolescents reduce the time spent in the risk behaviour, but also too long to increase the level of stress within the adolescents.

Relationship between Leisure, Work, and Health

Leisure is often is often described as free time or the quality of experience. Free time is the time spent away from education, domestic chores, job hunting, work, business as well as necessary activities for instance sleeping and eating. The range of the leisure activities extends from a casual and informal to a long lasting and highly organized activities. Engaging in the leisure related activities results in satisfaction through recognized achievement and skill development. Leisure improves health implying that an individual can perform better at work. The creative pursuit away from the daily routine has a direct relationship to the creative problem-solving skill and also helping other at work. Taking part in the recreational activities can improve the people’s physical wellness meaning that people can work for longer. In fact, individuals who make use of the recreational facilities visit doctors less often. Participating in leisure related activities can also help someone to manage depression and stress better.

The successful participation in the leisure activities has a closer relationship with successful aging. Physical health can be directly affected by leisure and recreational facilities. Those people who engage in a healthy lifestyle live a life free from various diseases as compared to those aging people with reduced recreational activities. When some think that it is appropriate to use recreational activities on activities that improve the mind, for instance, doing puzzles or reading while others feel it is necessary to rest the mind during leisure time. Leisure time is the right moment to keep the mind and body healthy. In the present world where people tend to have a busy lifestyle, it could be appropriate to use such time wisely. Some people think it this time should be dedicated to intellectual activities while others believe that it should be devoted to mental health. I feel both are of great importance and it depends on the individual choice. Undoubtedly those who engage in the in hard physical activities as part of their day to day routine should have a mental rest during their leisure time (Azaiza, Rimmerman, Croitoru & Naon, 2009). On the other hand, if people do sedentary works and lack physical exercises their leisure time should involve outdoor activities, for instance, participating in games. This will provide them with appropriate activities that will keep them healthy. Leisure time also provides a better avenue for improving social skills; this arises when people from different social and status and age groups freely mingle with each other. The positive attitude and team spirit are an essential factor in the daily routine. For instance, a computer technician after days of full mental strain needs physical activities, and it could be appropriate if they resort to outdoor events.

Appropriately utilizing leisure is simply an art and can significantly improve health. It gives people an opportunity to make and contemplate beautiful things and even acquire culture. Leisure gives human beings a chance for sharing health and psychological values of friendship, for happiness and contentment and aesthetic human relationship. In leisure time people will often think about the numerous creative works available. Although leisure time remains to be time at people's disposal it should be used joyously and constructively. Many people do not even understand how to use leisure time constructively, and they will often complain of being too tired during vacations and holidays.





Conclusion

Since engaging in the leisure related activities is relevant to peoples well-being it is essential that people understand all the factors that affect the outcome. The programs should be structured in a safe and appropriate environment to allow people to participate. The programs must also have as many modes of participation as possible to encourage maximum participation and enjoyment by all individuals. The programs should also have adequate knowledge of the important aspects of all people and the differences associated with participation and tailor the programs appropriately. Since leisure activities are core aspects of a person’s life, it is important that the participation is enjoyable to make sure there is a lifelong engagement. The creativity derived from the leisure activities improve the job performance.

















References

Azaiza, F., Rimmerman, A., Croitoru, T., & Naon, D. (2009). Participation in leisure activities by Arab adults with intellectual disabilities living in the community. International Journal Of Social Welfare, 20(1), 97-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2009.00703.x

Borodai, V. (2017). Inversion of marketing strategies in cultural and leisure activities. EUROPEAN RESEARCH, 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.20861/2410-2873-2017-27-001

Buswell, L., Zabriskie, R., Lundberg, N., & Hawkins, A. (2012). The Relationship Between Father Involvement in Family Leisure and Family Functioning: The Importance of Daily Family Leisure. Leisure Sciences, 34(2), 172-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2012.652510

Roberts, K. (2011). Leisure: the importance of being inconsequential. Leisure Studies, 30(1), 5-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2010.506650