One in three Poles starts exercising on an impulse. Could it be a “second start to the year?”
The MultiSport Programme data shows that almost half of physically active Poles exercise regularly throughout the year. In turn, as many as one in five trains only seasonally and one in three gives in to momentary impulses. Typical moments of “surge”? New Year, spring but increasingly also autumn. Experts emphasise that the end of the holidays and the re-arrangement of daily routines can be a perfect time for mobilisation, which may be transformed into regular activity.
– For many people, the autumn season is a symbolic “start to the year.” During this time, after recharging our batteries over the holidays, we reorganise our day with renewed energy, return to the rhythm of daily duties: school, work, university, and re-establish our weekly schedule. This creates an excellent opportunity to introduce healthy habits. On the one hand, our brain likes novelty, which is why such stimuli as the beginning of autumn and a new “curriculum” effectively attract our attention and motivate us to act. On the other hand, the key to perseverance is to turn this impulse into a routine. Therefore, instead of focusing on quick results, it is better to treat exercise as an element of everyday life, not a challenge to be checked off. The key here is working on internal motivation. Only then will exercise become a natural part of our functioning, and not a seasonal outburst – says Mateusz Majchrzak, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist and MultiSport expert.
Continuation or fresh start?
According to a survey commissioned by Benefit Systems, the MultiSport card operator, 55% of Poles declared active recreation during this year’s summer season. For many, it was a time of regeneration through movement: 60% of respondents consider physical activity to be an effective form of relaxation, 29% admitted that they intended to spend their summer holiday mainly lazing around, and 41% declared that for them, relaxation meant primarily time without any activity, spent at home. Since it’s never too late to start an adventure with physical activity, perhaps the beginning of autumn will be an effective incentive for some people to act? In turn, for those who spent the summer months actively, this time may be a logical continuation of exercise in a slightly modified form, e.g. as part of activities in facilities.
With and without a plan
The beginning of autumn is a good time to introduce changes that have a chance to stay with us for a long time. In the case of families, a shared daily schedule that includes time for exercise alongside schoolwork and professional responsibilities can become a foundation for strengthening family relationships and building healthy habits in adults and children. It turns out that adults who are physically active today are much more likely to admit that sports were practised in their families. This is declared by 58% of those exercising for more than three hours a week and 47% of those exercising for at least three hours a week. Physical activity in a personal or family weekly plan does not have to have a rigid schedule. Research shows that one in three physically active Poles undertakes spontaneous physical activity, while more than half of them follow a specific plan.
– In January and February, our activity is determined by New Year’s resolutions, then there is a need to take care of our body shape before the holidays, and the next period of increased activity in sports facilities is autumn. MultiSport data shows that at this time Poles are returning to year-round activities, dominated by gym training, fitness classes, and swimming in indoor pools. People who want to take their current activity to a higher level sign up for more demanding training, for example, OCR (Obstacle Course Racing), which is aimed at preparing for extreme races, while those who want to literally aim higher visit climbing walls. Meanwhile, people who value the socialising function of sport are following new schedules of group fitness classes, which are particularly popular among Millennials. Regardless of age, we encourage our cardholders and their companions to broaden their perspective on physical activity and treat it as a pleasant way to spend time. Sport should not be associated with compulsion, and “I have to go to the gym” should be replaced with “I want to feel better.” It is in this spirit that we are developing the range of disciplines and facilities available in the MultiSport Programme – so that everyone can exercise whenever and however they want, and activity becomes an important and positive element of the day – says Kinga Kołodziej, Customer Relations Director at Benefit Systems.
It's never too late to start
MultiSport data shows that among adults who have fond memories of their PE lessons, as many as 70% now exercise at least once a week. Importantly, the lack of positive experiences with physical education in childhood does not rule out the possibility of change, as many as 33% of adults who were not active at school nevertheless exercise regularly today, often motivated by health reasons or the desire to spend time with others. This is clear proof that it’s never too late to start your own fitness routine.
About the survey: Quantitative research on the holiday activities of Poles commissioned by the MultiSport brand, conducted on the nationwide research panel Ariadna in June 2025 using the CAWI method on a representative random nationwide sample of N=1117 Poles aged 18+. The MultiSport Index 2024: Sportcrastination report Cites the following research: 1) Minds&Roses commissioned by Benefit Systems, 07.2024 MultiSport Index 2024. Quantitative CATI survey conducted on a representative random nationwide sample of N=1,400 Poles aged 18+. 2) IRCenter commissioned by Benefit Systems, 07.2024, Reasons for practising and not practising sports by Poles. Qualitative survey carried out in three locations, 15 (IDI) and 5 (FGI) with people with varying degrees of involvement in physical activity 3) IRCenter commissioned by Benefit Systems, 08.2024, Reasons for practising and not practising sports by Poles. CAWI quantitative survey conducted on a representative nationwide sample of N=1006 Poles aged 18+.
Barbara Jastrzębska
Benefit Systems has been operating on the Polish market for over two decades and is one of the leaders in providing non-financial benefits that support employee wellbeing. The company is the creator of the MultiSport Programme, which enables physical activity in sports facilities throughout the country. Its portfolio also includes the MyBenefit cafeteria platform and the MultiLife wellbeing programme. For several years now, the company’s sports offer has been developed on foreign markets, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The Benefit Systems Group also operates fitness clubs (in Poland it is responsible for Fabryka Formy, FitFabric, Fitness Academy, Good Luck, My Fitness Place, Saturn Fitness, StepONE, Total Fitness and Zdrofit networks). An important area of Benefit Systems activities is the promotion of an active lifestyle at every stage of life, which is why the company implements initiatives supporting physical activity of children, adults, and seniors, also as part of the MultiSport Foundation. Since 2018, Benefit Systems has been part of the global B Corp initiative, bringing together companies operating and engaging in solving the most important social problems. More information can be found at benefitsystems.pl/en.
