Lisa Kennelly from Fishbrain (www.fishbrain.com), the social networking app for people who love to fish, comments on the reasons why fishing is good for your mental health:
It provides time to bond with those around you
It improves focus
Fishing takes a lot of focus. When you catch a fish and reel it in, there’s no space to think about anything else. Focussing on one thing at a time is incredibly relaxing as you have a chance to put down all the plates you’re spinning!
It creates a connection with nature
Recently, a study from the Canal and River Trust revealed that GPs are prescribing canal walks to ease depression, with the proximity to water being a key factor. Nature plays an integral part in fishing, and any angler will tell you that being near the water is a great way to relax.
It provides time to bond with those around you
Taking friends and family fishing provides a chance to reconnect away from all the distractions of modern life. Spending time with those around us is key to mental wellbeing as it can help stave off loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
It improves self-esteem
Fishing is a great way to set personal goals and achieve them. Even if you have a day with no catches, realising that you are capable of mastering a skill and relying on yourself to make it a success is a great boost for your self-esteem.
It improves your analytical skills
Regularly pinpointing the best places to fish and spotting problems ahead of time will improve your analytical skills. Exercising your grey matter is great for your mental health, and your critical thinking skills can even make a difference in your working life.
It gives you time out from the real world
Fishing is a great way to detach from the day-to-day. Quietly sitting and stopping the clocks is allows you to concentrate on yourself. This form of meditation is great for introspection and your overall mental health.
It ups your Vitamin D levels
Spending time fishing is a great way to get outdoors and increase the levels of Vitamin D in your system. In fact, research from the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry shows that the more vitamin D you get, the less likely you are to experience depression.
It counteracts noise pollution
Finding a quiet moment is difficult in our modern world, but fishing is a perfect way to cut through the noise. According to the University of Michigan, the brain can restore its cognitive resources when focusing on ‘soft’ fascinations with lower levels of sensory input that usual.
It’s a source of exercise
Whether you’re wading through rivers or casting, fishing is a great way to burn calories and this can have a positive effect on mental health. According to the University of Nebraska, exercise has been proven to reduce anxiety and depression by improving cognitive function.
It encourages travel
In 2014, a study by Cornell University showed that the anticipation of a trip substantially increases your levels of happiness. With fishing giving you the perfect reason to discover new parts of the world, the mental health benefits of this sport begin even ahead of your trip away.
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