Simply and actively: this is how 55% of Poles relax.
Spontaneous exercise and energy – this summer we are keen to focus on active recreation. It’s about simple forms of physical activity that improve our wellbeing and give us a sense of freedom. According to a survey commissioned by Benefit Systems, one in two residents of our country are planning to spend this year’s holiday actively.
Playing sports is not just a way to stay fit. As many as 60% of respondents believe that activity is an effective form of relaxation. For many people, exercise – both spontaneous and planned – becomes a natural choice when they want to truly chill out. It’s a return to the natural need for physical activity which we remember from childhood, when playing outdoors the whole day was the best way to spend summer days.
Why do we exercise? Summer motivation to be active
The most important reason is our health: 37% of respondents declare that they want to take care of their physical condition and wellbeing. This is a signal that physical activity is gaining new meaning for many people. It is becoming an element of body care and welfare, not just a way to achieve the desired appearance.
By including exercise in our travel plans, we also take care of our mental health. Daily walks, during which we take at least 7,000 steps, reduce the risk of developing depression. Moreover, regular physical activity increases the level of β-endorphins. It is a substance naturally produced in the body that has effects similar to morphine, which is associated with a feeling of euphoria. There is also an increase in the level of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a protein secreted by nerve cells, which plays an important role in the development, functioning and regeneration of neurons. This affects the development and plasticity of the brain as well as learning and memory processes. In short, physical activity practised every day makes us feel better and think more efficiently.
Mateusz Majchrzak, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist, MultiSport expert
The psychological effects are also important. One in four respondents indicate that exercise supports good sleep and improves mood, and one in five (22%) see physical activity as a way to reduce stress and break away from everyday problems. This reminds us again how naturally exercise can restore balance. Just like when, after a whole day of running around the yard, we fell asleep faster and our dreams were more peaceful.
We choose what’s simple: our favourite summer activities
MultiSport Programme data shows that throughout the year, Poles most frequently use bicycles, jogging, gym and fitness classes, as well as swimming pools. In the summer, they eagerly supplement this repertoire of disciplines with seasonal activities that are favoured by the holiday weather – swimming in lakes, the sea or rivers (31%), mountain hiking and trekking (19%), and kayaking or paddleboarding (11%).
In the summer, we like to supplement our activities with forms of exercise that fit well into the holiday rhythm, such as playing padel or visiting a wake park for the first time. Our data shows that in the summer season MultiSport card users are eager to take advantage of the opportunities the card offers them in terms of learning new disciplines or supplementing their holiday plans. Those staying in cities often choose to swim in summer pools and visit suburban rope parks, those staying at the seaside choose kayaking and beach volleyball, and those spending holidays by the lake – pedal boats. The main attraction for tourists in mountain regions is undoubtedly cable cars.
Kinga Kołodziej, Customer Relations Director at Benefit Systems
In the summer, the top list of additional seasonal activities chosen by MultiSport Programme users includes swimming in outdoor pools, visiting wake parks and paddleboarding, as well as playing padel and activities in rope parks.
It is worth noting that 34% of Poles declare that physical activity is also their way of regenerating on a daily basis. A positive attitude towards active leisure time shows that effective relaxation does not have to mean “doing nothing,” and that specific seasons open up new sporting opportunities from which we can derive additional joy.
About the survey: A survey commissioned by the MultiSport brand, conducted on the nationwide Ariadna research panel in June 2025. A quantitative CAWI study conducted on a representative random nationwide sample of N=1117 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.
