Introduction
Parent, employee and student are singularly engaging enough to form a full time occupation. Yet currently many people are undertaking all of them contemporaneously over and above being a spouse and taking some community service. This set of circumstances has relegated leisure to the periphery leaving no room for recreation. The main prerequisites of recreation are that it is done on one’s own volition, is intrinsically satisfying, carries a personal meaning, and is also enjoyable (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015). The absence of recreation has had a major adverse effect to the individual, the community and also the environment. Whereas all these obligations that occupy time are crucial to the people undertaking them, the sacrifice of leisure is detrimental even to them thus making the exertions counterproductive (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015). This research paper looks at the benefits of recreation from three basic levels to wit the individual, the community and the society.
Individual Benefits of Recreation
Human beings are not automated robots and require a break from the norm. Yet with the advent of industrialization and subsequent specialization, humans have been reduced into the same set of activities in repeated sequences (Wolch et al., 2014). This results in a form of monotony that makes life extremely dull and repetitive. Recreation creates an opportunity for the individual, who is always an expert on what activity would break the repetitive nature of normal life. For example a teacher who has a large family will always be in a crowded or noisy place most of the time. For recreation, the teacher can pick an activity that entails a quiet secluded place. The inverse would also be true for a person who works in a quiet place. The second benefit of recreation is the creation of an opportunity for exercise, more so for the majority whose jobs do not involve physical activity (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015). Albeit tired, without physical activity, it might be hard to find sleep and therefore rest.
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Further, man is a social being and needs to interact from time to time (Wolch et al, 2014). Interaction that is not out of choice such as the one made while working may eventually become monotonous. Recreation creates time for interaction at an individual’s own terms making it more fulfilling. This socialization can also be from a family perspective as many families do not find time to spend together due to a multitude of obligations (Wolch et al, 2014). Finally, recreation reduces stress which is one of the most debilitating contemporary predicaments (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015). Being able to do what one wants to creates an opportunity to unwind and get rid of stress. Reduction of stress has a holistic impact in every avenue of life including the ability to work better and interact better socially (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015).
Community Benefits of Recreations
Communities are made of individuals and reflect the nature of the majority of the members in the community. In the first instance therefore, recreation creates better members of the community leading to a better community (Wolch et al., 2014). The healthy aspect of recreation also has a community benefit in that healthcare amenities are not stretched and are thus available for those really in need. Further, when recreational activities are carried out together, it brings members of the community together thus creating a societal bond (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015).
Currently, there has been a major alienation of people living in the same community with adverse consequences. One of the casualties of this is children. When parents do not interact, there is mistrust amongst them which compels children to stay indoors thus developing antisocial behavior as well as health problems such as obesity. Unity in a community, gained through recreation will also be useful in times of a crisis when the community members need to work together (Ertuzun & Akgul, 2015). Causes that would otherwise have gone unrealized among the community get recognized when the community comes together for recreation and many people have been assisted through this.
Environmental Benefits of Recreation
Most environmental friendly activities are premised on recreation. Major among them is the joining up in groups and clubs in order to engage in environmental conservation. Recreation brings communities together and enables then share ideas about what is wrong with their environment and ought to be improved (Costanza et al., 2016). Cleaning up common places, planting of trees and collection of refuse are some of the community recreational activities that are beneficial to the environment. Nature parks, forest and reserves are crucial to the environment but would not be necessary without recreation (Costanza et al, 2016). Through providing recreation areas, the environment is conserved. Indeed some recreational areas charge monies that are used for environmental conservation which creates a direct benefit to the environment stemming directly from recreation. Fossil fuels, more so from motor vehicle exhaust is a major problem to the environment. Many people choose recreation through walking to places where they would have otherwise driven to, this cumulatively results in environmental preservation (Costanza et al, 2016).
Conclusion
It is clear from the above that taking time away from work to do leisure based recreation activity is actually beneficial even to the work as a relaxed and less stressed worker is more effective. It also ensures health and a better social life. Over and above this, recreation brings the community together eliminating the prospect of strangers living in the same community. This is beneficial even to the children. Healthy members of the community physically, psychologically and emotionally also make for a better community. Finally, through contributions in time, money and ideas, recreation also aids in environmental conservation.
References
Costanza, R., d’Arge, R., De Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., & Raskin, R. G. (2016). The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital (1997). The Globalization and Environment Reader , 117.
Ertuzun, E., & Akgul, M. B. (2015, November). Perceived benefits of participating individuals as active and passive in recreational activities. In Proceedings of International Academic Conferences (No. 3105424). International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and Urban Planning , 125 , 234-244.
