It was a comment from a friend I play football with after we heard adult community sport in NSW had been given the green light to resume competition from July 1. Juniors, up to 18, were given the go-ahead a week earlier while us older ones waited in limbo.

The news was welcomed by many sporting organisations around the state. For one, many were set to take a big financial hit if the season had to be scrapped. But more importantly, as pointed out by Newcastle Basketball general manager Neil Goffet, it was great news from a community perspective.

"Sport is a huge part of the community and we need people playing sport for their physical and mental health, friendships and all of the rest of it that come from sport," Mr Goffet said. "It's a very, very positive step for the whole community. Sure, it's great news for the sporting organisations like us, but that's secondary. It's far more important to the community than it is for us."

I have spoken to many people who play sport over the past few months and one thing that was clear was that no matter what level you are, from social to professional, it is an imperative part of many lives.

Some sports have already announced they won't be going back this year, which means you could find yourself without sport for the first time in many seasons and filling the void may prove a challenge. Other states are still waiting for a date they can resume.

Or some people would be considering not going ahead with previous plans to play. This could be due to a change in financial circumstances, feeling unprepared and unfit like my friend or possibly because there have been some lifestyle benefits to lockdown.

I for one have never slept better. Without the constant rush to get child A, B and C to their various activities, as well as our own, afternoon and evening disruptions have been minimal and instead of trying to catch up on work I have been able to go to bed earlier.

The thought of going back to training this week, in the cold and at a time nearing my new bedtime, is not that appealing. But what is appealing are the benefits I gain from playing a community sport. I am 42 and love that I am still able to run around on the football field and set an example for my kids. It is also a social outlet and gives me time to switch off, so I can reap social, physical and mental benefits.

Playing winter sport can also be that push you need to keep active through the colder months when getting up early for a run or going after work in the dark are not that motivating. I have always found that having a commitment to train and play a sport gives me three guaranteed work-outs each week between usually April and September.

The Australian Sports Commission, which unites Sport Australia - responsible for driving the broader sport sector including participation, physical activity and industry growth - and the Australian Institute of Sport - leading our high performance sport system - has developed a Find your 30 campaign, which can be found at www.sportaus.gov.au/findyour30.

It encourages every Australian adult to commit to at least 30 minutes of activity each day. The Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines and the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines say adults aged 18-64 should accumulate two-and-a-half to five hours of moderate intensity physical activity or one-and-a-quarter to two-and-a-half hours of vigorous activity each week, and children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day.

Find Your 30 is all about finding practical ways in which anyone can work half an hour of activity into their day for brain health, mental health, social benefits, heart and lung health, bone health and also environment benefits. The latter is based around the idea of reducing our carbon foot print by instead using physical activity as a form of "active transport". That could be walking or riding your bike to work, or school for the kids, instead of driving.

It might provide inspiration if you aren't playing sport this winter and are looking for motivation to keep moving.

For avid parkrunners, news that New Zealand plan to start up their weekly five-kilometre community events next month will be heartening.

While events in Australia are still suspended, parkrun have announced they are launching (not)parkrun. According to blog.parkrun.com/au/, (not)parkrun will be an opportunity for parkrunners to submit a 5km walk, jog, or run, on a route of their choice and will work a bit like the parkrun Freedom run, which allows people to self-declare the date and time of a walk, jog or run.

Whether it is a return to sport, (not)parkrun or some practical suggestions through Find Your 30, keeping active through winter is about finding a way to stay motivated and committed.

(30 minutes)

Option 1 (lower intensity): Walk or cycle solo, with a friend or as a family outing.

Option 2 (moderate intensity): For a 30-minute period, alternate walking 2 minutes and jogging 1 minute.

Option 3 (vigorous intensity): For a 30-minute period, run 2 minutes at a harder intensity then jog or walk at a recovery pace for 1 minute.

- Renee Valentine is a journalist, qualified personal trainer and mother of three. r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au.