Digging for Metal – 5 Benefits of This Activity

There are many hobbies out there that can make you relax, but not so many include movement (except for the ones that involve sport). Searching for metal can be both satisfying (for many reasons) and relaxing and it can be an activity you can carry out by yourself or accompanied by friends or family members. Some people even make a living out of it, but that really depends on knowing where and what to search for because there are areas filled with metal artifacts and some others that have none. The best places to search for metal are the beaches, but if you are lucky enough you can do it in your back yard as well. You can turn it into a fun activity for children or even elders by organizing a treasure hunt (with a storyline and all). However, you will need to invest in some equipment, but it does not have to be expensive. There are some really affordable metal detectors on the market from which you can choose. However, if you are looking for a metal detector and do not know which one to choose to check this metal detector review by DetectHistory.

Eco-friendly

Think about it, scrap metal really has a negative impact on the environment for many reasons. By gathering it you can make a change on this issue and you can set an example for other people. But how does metal affect the mother nature when you can mine it from natural ores? First of all, it somehow reaches large land fields and it decreases their productivity forcing the owners and managers to enlarge them and put extra effort and resources into them. Some of the metal pieces are treated with some toxic chemicals, especially the ones that go into electronics, and that is a great risk factor in pollution because all of those chemicals can infiltrate and reach the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat. Moreover, in order to get metal, besides recycling, the only way is to mine ores and that also has a negative effect on the environment as it destroys nature, lands, and habitats, causing a faster erosion. In addition, metal recycling helps with saving the energy used to smelt and transform pure natural metals from ores (which need more work) by reducing the amount of it as it is easier to reshape used scraps. On this matter, it also diminishes the gasses that have a greenhouse effect by saving energy.

Spending time with children

Nowadays, kids tend to spend less and less time outside and that is bad for their health from many perspectives. They don’t enough sun, fresh air, and exercise, but instead, they learn how it uses technology really fast, so there is still an upside. But the most beneficial for them would be if you encourage them to spend more time outside and play. There are many activities that you can carry out with them, but to make it more fun and really enjoyable, you should organize a treasure hunt. You can get as creative as possible and you can even ask them to help you do it as children tend to have a richer imagination. You can hide things underground or you can use a raw place like a beach or the back yard as they are and make them search for things. Of course, you are not going to let them dig up all of your garden (unless you need it and that was the intention in the first place), so you should teach them how to use a detector to find underground metal easier. You can play along with them, invite some of their friends over and you can turn it into a nice party. Besides you teach them that recycling is good for the environment.

Spending time with elders

Once they retire, elders tend to spend more time in the house than they used to and they also stop exercising, which is bad for both their mental and physical health. Besides, they often feel alone and like they don’t matter anymore because suddenly they don’t feel useful anymore. Spending time with them is important for both parties and it doesn’t necessarily have to be boring. Digging for metal together can be a nice activity that can help you bond and exercise at the same time. So, it is a great way to get them out of the house and spend time together. It can also be a family thing and you can take your kids as well. They will ask and learn about past times, how they managed to have fun without any smart technology when they were younger and stories from their childhood.

Great hobby

Studies show that people who have a hobby are less likely to develop mental health issues like depression and anxiety because they relax by doing something they like. Doing a pleasant activity helps your brain to release serotonin, which is the so-called “hormone of happiness”. Some hobbies also make great business ideas and people who turned their passions into careers say they are happier than at their previous jobs. Metal detecting can be a relaxing and satisfying activity after a stressful and busy day. If you treasure your alone time, you can do it by yourself or if you need to socialize more you can call some of your friends or you can find a community of people that have the same interest as you.

Secret treasures

The fun part about digging for metal scraps and artifacts is that you never know what you will find. There have been cases of really interesting and valuable findings either financially, historically or both. It is basically like finding secret treasures buried underground intentionally or with time. Some of the things you find can really bring you a fortune or you can also restore them and use them as house objects and decorations. You can pick up on another hobby and that is collecting. Now, you should know that this can really turn your house into a crowded place if you don’t know where and when to stop.