The verdict is in – Canadians are spending more time outside and prefer to engage in green exercise close to home. 78% of households in census metropolitan areas (CMAs) regularly participate in nearby outdoor activities, with those outside CMAs following closely at 77%. Walking, sports, and beach-related pursuits cemented themselves as the most popular choices, but any physical routine in natural environments falls under the category of green exercise.
Green exercise is excellent for physical and mental health, with researchers finding stabler cortisol levels in those who participate in it compared to those who lack movement or exercise indoors. As the cortisol hormone is responsible for blood pressure, metabolism, and stress, making exercise part of your lifestyle can significantly boost your quality of life. Moreover, you get to appreciate nature and grow more aware of your surroundings to do some good — maybe by picking up litter for proper disposal along the way.
Of course, going outside also means exposing yourself to external elements, glare, and high UV levels that can harm your eyes. With the increasing prevalence of vision impairment in Canada, you’ll want to keep safe amid all these risk factors while you enjoy your regimen.
Wear UVA and UVB protection
The best way to protect your vision when you exercise outside is to put a layer of defense between your delicate eyes and the sun’s harmful rays. A solid pair of sunglasses should have a coating to block UVA and UVB rays, which can cause cataracts, blurry vision, and even cancerous growths. You may want to get polarized sunglasses to reduce glare, or if you require vision correction, prescription sunglasses offer the same tint and benefits as regular ones while giving the spectacles clarity.
Contact lenses are generally considered to be most comfortable when exercising, and you can opt to use contacts with your sunglasses for vision correction or choose contact lenses with UVA and UVB-blocking features. Clearly sells the Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus Technology lenses, which offer the highest UVA and UVB protection. As a bonus, these contact lenses are designed to minimize eye dryness in challenging environments, making them great for green exercise. Just keep your lenses clean and avoid exposing them to dirt and sweat. Carry around an extra pair and contact lens solution whenever you head outdoors for your workouts.
Don’t rub your eyes
This may seem like a given, but studies show that people touch their faces about 16 times an hour. Even when you’re focused on an activity like exercise, you’re likely to touch your face to wipe away sweat, get an itch, or just in an absent-minded moment as a reaction. When you are engrossed in your outdoor activities, you may be even less aware of how much you interact with your eye area at any moment.
With this in mind, you should take extra care not to rub your eyes. The action itself is already bad for your eyes but can be worsened when done with dirty hands that have been exposed to various germs and outdoor elements. A simple rubbing motion can cause increased eye pressure, infections, and even distortion or abrasions in the cornea, so it’s something you should warn others against doing as well.
Stay hydrated
Don’t overlook your hydration when you exercise outdoors. As you sweat and expose yourself to heat, different body parts fight to get as much hydration as possible. When you don’t replenish this enough, your eyes can become dry, irritated, blurry, and reddened. This is uncomfortable and strenuous on your eyes, two conditions you want to avoid when exercising out in the open.
Aside from drinking ample amounts of water, you may also want to bring artificial tears to help lubricate your eyes. Just be mindful of the type of eye drops you are using because several approved products in the Canadian market have traces of DTPMP. While considered safe in limited amounts, any excess can result in irritation. As such, experts recommend only using two drops per eye twice daily. Additionally, you should discontinue use after a week unless prescribed by a doctor. Thealoz Duo and I-Drop Pur Gel are preservative-free options formulated specifically for dry eyes.
Exercise has plenty of health and well-being benefits, including higher life satisfaction and overall well-being. You double down on those benefits by bringing your exercise regimen outdoors, so try green exercise today.
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