Why You Should Take Up A Sport With Your Partner - Page 7

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So you and your partner want a new regular activity. Maybe you want to lose weight. You could find something that satisfies both those needs. You could compare local gym memberships but, you likely won’t end up actually going to the gym at the same time often. You say you will but, between traffic, various schedules, and different wakeup times, you’ll give up on coordinating it—you’ll just go separately. You may hit those weight loss goals but, you won’t wind up spending much more time together, and you won’t have a new regular activity in your life. You can just go to the gym whenever…or not. Nobody will notice if you don’t. Consider, instead, taking up a sport with your partner. Your team will rely on you, so you’ll have to show up at game times—it holds you accountable. There are actually a lot of perks of taking up a sport with your partner.

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You’ll be happy at the same time

You’ll get those endorphin boosts at the same time. You won’t have one happy person, and one cranky person killing the happy one’s buzz. You’ll both get that post-workout lift at the same time.

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You’ll be energized at the same time

You’ll also both have energy at the same time. That will help with, well, everything, from your sex life to cleaning the apartment to going to a friend’s birthday party.

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And tired at the same time

You’ll be tired at the same time, too. So you won’t have many more nights when one person wants to have sex and the other is exhausted—if one’s exhausted from the game, the other is, too.

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It takes exercise talk off the table

If there were any concerns about your partner’s weight, now you don’t need to worry about reminding him to go to the gym several times a week. You know practice is around the corner. Let the team captain make your partner run laps.

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You’ll make couple friends

It’s a great way to make couples friends. Making new couples friends—especially when you move somewhere new—is tough. But joining a sports league is an easy way to do it.

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You’ll learn something new together

If you’re both new to the sport entirely, then you’ll learn a new skill together. Taking in new information and developing new skills together bonds you.

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A break from routine is good

While practice and games may be scheduled, you never know what will happen on the field (or court or wherever you play your chosen sport). It’s nice to have some spontaneity amidst your scheduled lives.

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You’ll bond over victories

You can bond over games won. It’s just a fun excuse to go out for drinks and pat yourselves on the back.

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You’ll bond over losses

You can also commiserate after games lost. If you never quite understood your partner’s sadness after one of his favorite sports teams lost, you’ll finally get it.

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You’ll have after-game traditions

You’ll develop fun post-game traditions, like grabbing dinner at one spot after games and getting smoothies here after practice.

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It makes gift giving easier

You always know you can just get your partner something related to the sport—like new gear or workout clothes.

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It can get you out of obligations

You can use practice and games as excuses to get out of other things you don’t want to attend—like friends’ baby showers and anniversary parties. “Ah, sorry—we have a game that night.”

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It’s cheaper than date night

Getting into a sport is cheaper than date night (or date day). It’s better to be tied up on a field for a few hours every Saturday than to be wandering around a mall with your credit card burning a hole in your pocket.

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It’s more fun than the gym

Sports are just more fun than the gym. Gym activities—like running on the treadmill and lifting weights—are so repetitive. Sports keep your brain active, so you barely notice the time pass.