HEALTH + WELLNESS
Outdoors : ing
THE MISSION TO GET MORE WOMEN OUTDOORS
PIONEERED BY WOMEN ’ S OUTDOOR WEAR LABEL ACAI AND UNDERPINNED BY A HOST OF WELLBEING EXPERTS , OUTDOORSING IS THE NEW BUZZWORD WHEN IT COMES TO MUCH NEEDED ME-TIME WITH THE EXTRA BENEFIT OF FRESH AIR , RESETS AND EXPLORATION . SAMANTHA READY EXPLORES MORE …
It is no secret that being outdoors provides a heap of both physical and mental health benefits , yet as we switch back into post-lockdown work , family , life unbalance , I , like many , have found myself becoming increasingly tied to my desk and just generally being more ‘ indoors ’. With a newfound aim to get back to pre-pandemic fitness ( and frankly fit back into anything in my pre-lockdown wardrobe ) and as part of my ( now slightly obsessive ) ‘ ring-closing ’ mission ( of the Apple Watch kind , incase you have veered of in a weird direction ) it seemed the perfect opportunity to venture not only into the land of personal training , swimming and mindfulness , but also , rather simply , back outside .
Now boasting its very own verb , the Outdoorsing campaign was launched by ACAI co founder and creative director Kasia Bromley , backed by a diverse group of 60 women including Kirsty Gallacher , Helen Skelton and Gabby Logan , last summer , aimed at encouraging and inspiring more women to embrace the outdoors and , by doing so , reap the benefits .
As Dr . Julie Smith (@ DrJulie ) explains , going outdoors : “... shouldn ’ t be a once-in-a-while treat , but a staple part of our daily routine . We don ’ t have to climb mountains or hike through jungles to get the benefits of being outdoors . Research shows us that at least 20 minutes in nature each week is associated with good health and wellbeing .”
According to Outdoorsing expert and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi (@ theguthealthdoctor ) there are five great reasons to get outdoors today :
1 . Walking outside in sunlight allows your skin to produce Vitamin D .
2 . Public green spaces are usually linked with more social interaction , which can improve wellbeing .
3 . Exercising outdoors in a natural environment has been shown to be beneficial for your health .
4 . Forest bathing has been shown to lower stress levels and blood pressure .
5 . Being in green spaces exposes you to microbes , linked with supporting our immune system and regulating inflammation .
Being outdoors isn ’ t solely about exercise , fitness and physical health , it goes way beyond this – it is the most underrated way of boosting your mental health too ; so in the words of Dr Julie : “ if you are struggling to get to sleep , struggling to get up , or boost
course flipping the balance of the time we spend indoors - estimated on average to be a shocking 90 % of our time - to getting some outside green space fix , it will also help you to reduce stress hormones , reduce anxiety and lift your mood too .
One of the best ways to start is simply by going for a walk . I have now made it a conscious part of my week to walk everyday . Whether it was a slightly ill-fated commitment to walk to the office once a week ( which seemed like a really good idea until I discovered it took nearly an hour , wasn ’ t so pleasant in the rain , and meant I may then have to walk home again ), a simple lunchtime jaunt into town , or a meander around my local rural footpaths for half an hour at the end of a screen-filled day ; I can hand on heart say I love it . From the urban adventures to the countryside ambles , I have had time to think , to delve into creative ideas , had time away from phones , emails and small people demanding another snack , and have had a chance to switch off ; all while taking in more of the natural beauty of Kent , upping by Vit D and aiding my step count too .
As the clocks change and the promise of heatwaves begin , now is the perfect time to take advantage of the longer , brighter days and bring a bit of brighter happiness into your life , one outdoor step at a time .
“ Outdoorsing ! It ’ s a verb , a doing word , a word that you get to define . It ’ s about getting outdoors where you can move , connect with nature , recharge and breathe in the fresh air . Nature brings so many benefits to the mind , body and soul and we feel passionately about more women enjoying these benefits . No one should feel out of place or uncomfortable in the outdoors so whether you ’ re climbing peaks or strolling through parks , ambling or rambling , our mission is to inspire you to get out there and do your Outdoorsing thing .”
ACAI Co-Founder and Creative Director Kasia Bromley
To find out more about ACAI ’ s Outdoorsing mission and join the community visit www . acaioutdoorwear . com / pages / outdoorsing & follow # ACAIoutdoorsing .
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