Half of Brits say it is important to them to have a spot they can escape to, to boost their mood – from the beach, to their own back garden
Seven in 10 British adults claim they have a “happy place” – and as many as 93% say this special spot is outdoors, research has found.
Older generations are most likely to be found in the great outdoors, with 39% happiest when on a countryside walk, or at the beach (45%). Meanwhile, Gen Z are most content watching a sunset, and millennials say their happy place is relaxing in their own garden, or snuggling up with their children.
The survey of 2,000 adults also found that those who have a happy place actually typically have three spots that help to boost their mood – and for 59%, either most, or all, of them are outside. And 49% say it is important to their mental health that they have a happy place they can escape to – with 54% experiencing a mental health boost after spending time outside.
The research was commissioned by Cotswold Outdoor, whose ambassador, and conscious living advocate, Elinor Fay, said: “A happy place can mean different things to different people – but for many, it relates to the outdoors. “The results from this research suggest that while all age groups have a love of the outdoors, this connection deepens as you age. It’s great to see a love of the outdoors is widely shared across generations.
“The benefits of being outdoors are numerous and well-documented – it’s incredible for your mental and physical wellbeing. With the weather warming up, it’s the perfect opportunity for people to spend more time outdoors.” The study also found that 64% feel healthier when they spend time outside, with 73% enjoying exploring the outdoors in places they’ve never been before – from simple country walks, to towering hills.
A further 54% say this helps them to feel more connected to nature, while 35% believe it helps them “disconnect” from the chaos of daily life. On average, adults escape to their happy place nine times a month – with Boomers and older going most often, and Millennials the least.
To get the most out of it, the typical adult stays at that location for 66 minutes to maximise the benefits, according to the research, carried out by OnePoll.com. And if they can’t get there as often as they’d like, 18% feel frustrated, while 15% are annoyed. It also emerged three in 10 need walking boots to visit their happy place, while 37% would pack sunglasses, and a fifth require waterproof clothing.
Gemma Evans, product director at Cotswold Outdoor, which has created a Happy Place kit list off the back of the research, added: “We know our customers are looking for kit that helps them look and feel great. It matters to us that we offer the functionality needed to enjoy the outdoors, while delivering the style that enables wear in day-to-day life.”
