When you start to see your own breath in the winter air, and when the days get shorter than your pet’s patience right before mealtime, the last thing anyone wants to do is pull on their jogging pants and chart out their daily run (well, unless you’ve got Rocky Balboa levels of determination, which is often not the majority).
So, what do you do to keep yourself active during the harshest of winters? One word – motivation! But when you just don’t have the time to Marie Kondo your way into a healthier lifestyle, one of the best motivators is turning the task into a fun and engaging social activity that you can do with friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers. The team at Virtua Health put together this list of beginner’s social sports (meaning, low barrier to entry and minimal planning needed) so you can keep your body moving this winter!
Basketball
We know it, we love to watch it – but basketball can be one of the easiest ways to stay active in the cold, because the rules couldn’t be simpler! Grab yourself a (well-inflated) basketball, call up a few friends, and shoot some hoops while catching up. Or, head to a nearby basketball court and see who’s already started a pickup game. You might even kick off a game of HORSE if you’re feeling confident. Either way, it’s a light and fun way to hang out with friends, new and old.
Pickleball
Did you know that in countries such as Spain, pickleball is a top choice for youth to hang out and be active after work? A relative newcomer that’s been rising in popularity recently, pickleball is an excellent sport for some casual rallying with friends. With a long, thin paddle like table tennis and a wiffle-esque ball, pickleball is also easy to pick up because it’s very similar to other ball sports you may have played. Head to your nearest sporting goods store and pick up a set (and try not to frustrate your neighbors with the “plink-plink” sounds!)
Soccer
Finally, a sport where you can keep your hands warm in your pockets! Sure, you can always kick around a soccer ball by yourself, but very few things amp up a competitive spirit more than trying to get a high-flyer whizzing into the goal past your buddy. Also, after a little while, you’ll really see your footwork improve – so kick into high gear!
Frisbee
Ah, our college sweetheart. Frisbee is a great sport to play with friends because you can toss the disc around while chatting at a reasonable distance, or you can go all out with trick shots and dives. Either way, it gets your body moving, and you can play pretty much anywhere!
Badminton
While this sport takes a bit more setup, it’s internationally popular for a reason – very easy to pick up (literally, both the racket and shuttlecock are light as a feather), and once you get into a groove, you start moving REALLY fast. Before you know it, the birdie will be whizzing back and forth until WHACK – you land that smash shot right past your friend’s racket. Nothing more satisfying than that! And whenever you land a bit too hard after making that game-winning shot, our pals at Virtua Health have got you covered. Get connected with a Virtua Orthopedics & Spine specialist to get you back in fighting form.
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