By Jordan Fuller
If you’re looking for ways to soothe a busy brain, ease racing thoughts, and just generally improve your mental health, you’ve probably looked at all the “regular” things. Chatting with a therapist is a great idea. Meds can make a big difference. But before you consider anything that serious, there might just be other ways to do it, like physical activity.
In particular, if you don’t know how golf can improve your mental health, you might want to keep reading and learning because it could just be the thing that works for you!
The Golfer’s Journey: More Than Just a Swing
Golf is so much more than just a sport. If you use it the right way, it can be a journey toward better physical health, more sound mental health, and better cognitive functioning. If you love being outdoors around nature, golf could be the key to giving your mind what it needs to settle into a happier, healthier space.
Mastering the Mind-Body Connection on the Greens
Physical exercise (even mild) can do amazing things for the body and our mental well-being. And golf is the perfect sport for stimulating the mind while giving the body the workout it craves.
You can’t play a good round of golf without clearing your mind and focusing on what you’re doing. Between the unwavering concentration and the low-impact exercise, you’re creating the ideal connection between mind and body.
Nature’s Therapeutic Embrace
Plenty of studies show real evidence that exercising in nature can have even better therapeutic effects than exercising indoors.
In other words, you’ll get a great workout, release endorphins, and stimulate your mind if you’re playing in a TopGolf bay… But those effects are even stronger when you’re doing all the same actions and mental processes on the actual golf course, surrounded by nature.
Whether on the driving range or the full golf course, golf is the perfect environment to separate yourself from the stress of the “real world” and enjoy all the benefits.
Bonding Through Social Connection
Another amazing thing about golf (and something that sets it apart from other sports) is that you can do it alone or with others. If you’ve got a few hours to spare, you can head to the nearest driving range on your own, clear your mind, and enjoy some alone time.
On the other hand, if you want a bit of social connection, you can hang out on the course with friends or family. It can be a great bonding experience and a healthy way to spend time with the people you love.
Lack of social interaction can be a big contributor to poor mental health. Playing a round of golf is a great way to socialize without feeling like you’re obligated to visit someone. You can get in some valuable socialization without having to sit and talk.
Mindfulness and the Art of Concentration
Mindfulness isn’t about meditating in a quiet space. It’s all about being aware of what’s happening at the moment. It’s not about clearing the mind but engaging the mind to be fully present.
Golf is the perfect way. You need to focus on every swing, pay attention to your form, and think about what you want the shot to do. This kind of “being in the moment” can change the brain’s neural pathways, helping you manage your emotions better, ease anxiety, and enhance your concentration.
Make the most of this by focusing on that mind-muscle connection. Focus on how your muscles feel on every swing, if you have niggly pains anywhere, and how your form feels. It helps you connect your mind and body, bring you right into the moment, and ease up other intrusive thoughts.
Goal Setting and Achievement on the Greens
Golf is all about reaching your next goal. Whether working towards a specific handicap, aiming for a certain score, or just nailing the next shot, every swing gets you closer to the end result.
With every successful shot or goal reached, you get a nice dose of confidence in yourself and your game. Play often enough, and that sense of accomplishment will stick with you in life outside the golf course.
The key, though, is setting achievable goals. Don’t aim for a hole-in-one on every hole, but don’t just ignore goal setting either. Set realistic goals and watch yourself achieve them all, building an unshakable sense of confidence.
Stress and Anxiety Management
Life can be difficult, crazy, and overwhelming. But when you step onto the golf course, everything else melts away. The exercise releases happy hormones, lowers stress hormones, and centers your mind on the mind-muscle interaction. Vitamin D, fresh air, and nature add extra benefits.
Being on the course is like a vacation for your mind. It may be an hour or a few hours, but it’s a chance for you to take a step back from everything that’s bothering you in the “real world” and benefit from the time in your golfing bubble. When you step off the course again, you’re in a better space to think through real-world issues with a logical mind.
A Lifelong Love Affair with Golf
Golf is a fairly different sport to others. You can do it alone or with others for an hour or 6 hours—immersion in a natural setting greatly benefits the already substantial benefits it offers.
Another amazing feature of the game is that you can play it whether you’re 20 or 80. Fall in love with the sport now, and it’ll be your companion for the next few decades—there’s no need to stop when the muscles tire and age creep up on you.
Now that you know how golf can improve your mental health, it might be time to take steps to get involved in the sport! Check out your local golf course or indoor golfing facility, or consider investing in a golf simulator… Whatever suits you, but see if you can find ways to bring more golf into your life. Your mind will thank you!
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.
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