How Fishing Makes You a Better Person

Fishing is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. But did you know that studies show it can help you become a better person? If you’ve been angling for years, you may already have reaped benefits from this activity. For those who just got into the hobby, you'll be glad to know that the benefits of fishing go a long way. It's a relaxing and fun way to spend your time with family and friends, it's great exercise, and it also wakes up your happy hormones. If you're new to it, we're giving you some of the reasons why you should stick to fishing. 

Want to be a Better Person? Fishing Can Help

1. It relieves stress and anxiety.

Fishing allows you to take a break from your daily grind. You can relax without anyone disturbing you because most fishing areas are far from crowded places. It allows you to commune with nature. Studies say that a relaxing atmosphere does not only help you wind down - it actually helps lower blood pressure. Just sitting on your boat or the docks with your rod may also reduce the chances of you developing other health problems because of how this stress-relieving activity lowers your cortisol or what is known as the stress hormones. Fishing can be likened to a meditative process wherein you silence your thoughts and focus on your breathing. This is why health experts have found that fishing is beneficial for people fighting off anxiety.

2. It helps you get in shape and stay physically fit.

Fishing is considered a low-impact exercise. If you're the type who is not into running or doing burpees, you can get your cardiovascular exercise through fishing. Hiking to your fishing spot or doing a fishing technique called wading encourages light lung exercise. Other techniques such as fly fishing and surf casting require repetitive arm movements. While it sounds simple, it is challenging because you need to move your arms strategically to avoid injury. Using a kayak in fishing is also equivalent to a full-body workout. On top of all these exercises, you're getting a good dose of vitamin D from the sun. The vitamin is known to help alleviate depression, improve heart health and prevent osteoporosis, among other things.  

3. It helps improve your self-esteem.

Fishing is challenging in many ways, and we don't just mean physical challenges. You are not always guaranteed a good catch whenever you go fishing, but it always helps in building your confidence. Whether you catch something or not, it always gives you a good reason to look forward to the next trip and improve your techniques. As they say, there is no such thing as a bad fishing trip because you learn something new along the way. 

4. Fishing increases patience and concentration. 

It is no secret that patience is a quality that is difficult to learn. We live in a fast-paced world where we get instant gratification from many things. Shopping, banking, learning, socializing, and doing projects are all done online and with one click of a finger. While all these make our lives convenient, they certainly do not help increase our level of patience. They actually train our brains to do the opposite. It's a totally different story with fishing. You cast, you sit, you wait for many hours. You are not in control of when the fish will bite. While waiting, you focus only on one thing, and that's getting a catch. No gadget or app can ever train your brain the same way. 

5. It's one of the best ways to bond with your family and friends.

Fishing isn’t just a personal activity. It is the perfect way to bond with your family and friends. It is a fun activity that people of all ages can enjoy. You can share and teach each other fishing techniques and play fishing quiz games. Being unplugged means having quality time to share with people who matter to you because there will be no distractions from gadgets. This is also the best time to get kids interested in fishing. You can start fishing for American yellow perch and rainbow trout, two of the easiest fish to catch. 

6. It provides you with hearty meals.

One of the benefits of fishing is coming home with a hearty meal. Fish are rich in protein and high in beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, iodine, and other minerals. You want them in your body because they improve brain and heart health. Fish may also help alleviate symptoms of autoimmune diseases. 

If you want to enjoy the health benefits of fishing, try to eye for lake trout because it is loaded with B vitamins, iron, phosphorous, and vitamin D. It is also a good source of iodine. Another fish you should aim to put on your table is albacore tuna. It is high in protein and also rich in vitamin B and phosphorous. Phosphorous helps maintain and repair tissue and cells, builds healthy bone and teeth, and helps with nerve health. Remember that having a healthy body always leads to a happy life. 

Fishing will benefit you from the moment you hike to your fishing spot until the time you enjoy your catch.  It is the kind of activity with wins only and no losses.