Rugby, water polo, cricket, golf, tennis; if you’re trying to get into fitness or sports, there are a thousand different options you could try. Even if you had all the time in the world, it would be impossible to try all of them. It’d be great if there was some way to know what sports are best for you based on your personality or preferences, right?
Well, you’re in luck! We’ve got just the article for you. We’ll help you find the best sport for you based on a few questions that will help you better understand your needs and goals. So whether you’re looking for something competitive or something more leisurely, something you can do by yourself or as part of a huge team, we’ve got you covered!
And once you’ve discovered what sport is best for you, you’ll need to find people to practice it with! Thankfully, with Hypefive, it’s easy to get started. All you need is an internet connection and a desire to be active. Inside our community you’ll find practitioners of all kinds of sports, from the more traditional ones to some of the craziest options out there.
Are you eager to get started? Let’s jump into it!
What sport is best for me? A guide to find your next hobby
Regular exercise improves your overall health by helping you lose weight, feel better, and sleep better. Exercise also helps reduce stress and anxiety, and it can help ease depression. It’s also a great way to meet new people, an excuse to get out of your house, and a very pleasant pastime!
There’s a catch, though: in order to truly benefit from sports, you need to find a discipline that you enjoy and that you’ll practice consistently. It is key, then, that you take the time to research your options when you’re looking for the best sport for you.
In this guide we’ll help you explore some of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when looking for a new sport.
Questions to ask yourself when you’re looking for a new sport to practice
1- How much exercise do I need?
Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy. According to experts, you should try to do some kind of physical activity every single day. However, not everybody has the time to go to the gym every day.
That’s why depending on your unique schedule or preferences, it can be best to focus on activities that need to be done more frequently, like walking or running; or doing some kind of sport that gives you great results even if you only do it from time to time.
2- What kind of sports do I enjoy?
This one might seem obvious, but how much you’ll like your new sport will depend on whether or not it matches with your preferences and needs. For example, it might be best to find a sport you can do alone if you like your privacy, or stick to something less physically demanding if you have trouble staying consistent.
It’s important to remember that doing exercise is supposed to be fun! If you think sports are boring or a «necessary evil», you just need to keep looking.
3- How do I feel about having teammates?
There are many reasons why you might not enjoy team sports. You may prefer something that allows you to work out by yourself, or maybe you’re an introvert and want to use your free time to reconnect with your mind and body. If that’s your case, solo activities like running, surfing or training at the gym can be your best bet.
However, you might also be in the complete opposite situation! If you’re a «social butterfly» and thrive in environments where you can collaborate with other people, team sports like soccer, basketball or even hiking with a group can bring you a lot of fun.
4- What is my budget?
Sports can be expensive! If having access to equipment and an arena is important for your goals, make sure you’ve got savings set aside for this purpose. However, if money is tight but physical activity is still really necessary for mental health reasons, look into cheaper options like yoga, hiking, tai chi, or dancing.
5- What kind of sports feats do I admire?
Do you have a favorite athlete? Are there any sports movies or TV shows that really inspired you? Does watching the Olympics make you want to go out and try something new with your life? You might not be able to answer all of these questions right now, but keep them in mind as you explore your options.
In the end, choosing a sport that you’ve always wanted to try is one of the best ways to find happiness in your day to day life! No matter how difficult it feels at first, things will fall into place if you stay determined and focused.
So let’s say you’ve always felt inspired by people running ultra marathons: you admire their consistency and ability to enjoy extreme fatigue in order to achieve something they’ve set their mind on. Do you need to sign up for an ultra marathon in order to emulate them?
Not at all! You can always start small, sign up for a local race or just start running in the nearest park and take it from there. You’ll be surprised where you can be in a couple of months if you keep at it.
6- How much stimulation do I want?
Some people need the constant thrill and rush of competition, while others are looking for something more personal and quiet. Finding the right amount of stimulation for you is key if you want to keep practicing your new discipline over a long period of time.
For example, if you’re an introvert then chances are that loud environments like gyms or arenas could feel overwhelming after just a few minutes. That’s why something like yoga could be such a great choice! This discipline requires plenty of focus and mental engagement instead of physical strength; and can be done in the quiet of your home, in a relaxing studio, or even in the middle of nature.
On the other hand, there are plenty of sports you can practice if you want something more stimulating: crowd lovers will thrive competing in a soccer match, while adrenaline junkies could be better suited for something like surfing or snowboarding.
In any case, once you’ve decided which sport is the best for you, you’ll need to find the best way to start practicing and maybe a local community around that discipline too. If you haven’t done it yet, sign up for Hypefive’s newsletter and we’ll keep you posted with our next events and the release date for our app!