Sunday 30th September saw the first ever National GetOutside Day. The event’s creators and British mapping powerhouse, Ordnance Survey, aimed to encourage over 1 million people from across the nation to get outside by supporting over 100 free local activities to get involved in. We chat to our Water-to-Go ambassador and Ordnance Survey GetOutside Champion, David Love, about the day and why it’s important to get outside and create your own adventure.
It does seem a little odd to me that we’ve ended up in a position where we have to dedicate one day a year to shout about the positive benefits of getting outside. The outdoors is the place that I grew up, found my independence and developed a mindset that has kept me fit and active today.
Yet it’s a sad reality that, as a nation, we’re leading far more sedentary lives due to the increasing number of desk-bound jobs stuck behind a computer screen, made worse by choosing to spend a large proportion of our free time glued to our phones and devices, particularly the younger generation.
National GetOutside Day is a fantastic way to break that mindset, get involved in a free activity and have an adventure that’s right on your doorstep. Whether you’re up for a local family ramble, or want to travel further afield to take a walk up Snowdon, run, cycle, swim, do Nordic walking or even an endurance event, there’s something for everyone.
Age, weight, shape, gender and religion really are no barriers to enjoying the outdoors and Ordnance Survey are hosting and supporting some really awesome activities right across the country. You’ll even get to meet other Ordnance Survey GetOutside Champions that will be attending or leading these activities, including Ben Fogle, Sean Conway, Kenton Cool, and Paralympian Mel Nicholls.
If you missed National Get Outside Day, there are plenty of other activities and events happening all over the UK so keep up to date with what is going on near you on the Ordnance Survey website. There are plenty of resources to inspire you to get outside, including routes, how to guides, tips and advice and blogs from other OS Champions.
Being outdoors is fun, but even more importantly, it’s good for the brain, body, and soul. We need to be at one with nature and explore what the outdoors has to offer. There is so much on our doorstep for us to discover and learn about that we just don’t realise is there.
Being outside also has its physical benefits such as boosting your immune system and gives you your daily dose of Vitamin D which are both essential for a well-functioning and healthy body. Furthermore, being outdoors makes us better and more well-rounded people.
According to psychologists, exposure to the outdoors and nature helps us shrug off societal pressures, allowing us to remember and value more important things like relationships, sharing, and community.
When you are outside walking, hiking, running or nordic walking – however you want to get about and explore the outdoors, make sure you stay well hydrated wherever you are. Water-to-Go is perfect for providing safe, clean drinking water anytime, anywhere so you can stay healthy and energized throughout your walk. Thanks to our unique 3-in-1 technology filter, you can fill a Water-to-Go bottle from any river, stream and standpipe to name a few sources, and have access to drinking water wherever you are free of any harmful contaminants such as viruses and bacteria. Water is an essential nutrient that is involved in every function of the body so it is important to keep well-hydrated when you are outside and exercising.
Not only that, by using a Water-to-Go bottle, you will be reducing your plastic usage and actively helping to protect the planet from the damage caused by single-use plastic.
Following the success of National Get Outside Day as explained by David, we hope it has inspired and encouraged more people to explore the outdoors and create their own adventures. There is so much to discover so put on your walking boots, take your Water-to-Go bottle and explore!
To find out more about David and some of the wacky places he’s taken his Water-to-Go bottle you can follow him on social media or on his website: www.loveadventures.co.uk
