Sportcrastination,
Or How Poles (Don’t) Exercise
Physical activity is one of the pillars of health. It benefits both body and mind. And although this is a well-known fact, it is still difficult for a great many Poles to maintain regularity of exercise. Of those who try to change their current lifestyle and start exercising, only one in four is able to persevere in their resolution for more than a year. At the same time, as much as 34% of the population does not engage in any form of activity, not even walking.
What can be done to change this?
Lack of – time, health, desire
- For 28% of Poles, the main reason for not engaging in physical activity is lack of time, which is mainly due to being busy with work (62% of people indicated this), taking care of children (16%) and household duties (16%).
- A sizable group of Poles cite health problems as the reason for their lack of exercise. For 26%, illness is an obstacle, for 7%, an injury which hinders being active.
- Almost one in ten Poles confess that they are not active because they just... don’t want to.
- Interestingly, when asked why they don’t exercise, as many as 36% of people are unable to give a specific reason.
Exercise from an early age
Physical education at school plays a very important role in shaping an active lifestyle. The percentage of adults who do not engage in any activity is similar to the percentage who had a neutral (13%) or negative (20%) attitude toward PE classes.
Worth noting in this context is the fact that PE lessons are losing favour. Among those aged 55-65, as many as 70% admit that they liked PE, while 15% disliked it. In the 18-24 age group, only half of respondents have good memories of PE – as many as 36% were not fond of the classes.
Another important factor shaping activity habits is the influence of the family. 43% percent of Poles admit that sports were played in their family homes – and most of these people play sports at least three hours a week.
What can be done to overcome sportcrastination?
Sportkcrastination, or the tendency to avoid physical activity – regardless of its cause – negatively affects the health of the person suffering from it. However, it is not just a problem for individuals. It affects the entire community, as it contributes to a higher risk of contracting a number of ailments – such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and mental health conditions, all of which place a burden on the healthcare system.
How to fight it? Experts indicate that a fundamental change in thinking about activity is needed.
Focus on long-term health and well-being benefits.
Associate sports with pleasure instead of restrictions, compulsion and injuries.
Instill positive sports habits from childhood.
Spread awareness of activity and remove barriers to engaging in it.
MultiSport Index Reports
We have been supporting and researching the development of physical activity of Poles for years.
- MultiSport Index Report for 2024: "Sportkrastynacja. Jak (nie) ćwiczą Polacy?"
- MultiSport Index Report for 2023: ,,Nowy wymiar aktywności"
- MultiSport Index Report for 2022: ,,Dwa lata w pandemii"
- MultiSport Index Report for 2020: ,,Aktywność fizyczna Polaków wymaga wsparcia"
- MultiSport Index 2019: ,,Aktywnie po zdrowie. Badanie aktywności fizycznej oraz sportowej Polaków".
- MultiSport Index 2018: ,,Aktywnie po zdrowie. Badanie aktywności fizycznej oraz sportowej Polaków".
- ,,Polacy a rozwój" Report on the approach to personal and professional development by various generations of Poles, 2015.
- „Sportowa dekada" "MultiSport is changing the habits of Poles, the market of non-wage benefits and the fitness industry”, 2015.