Britons are spending more time outside – to escape stresses of life at home

THE typical Brit spends five hours and 41 minutes outside each week to boost their mood, clear their mind – and get away from their partner, according to a study.

A poll of 2,000 adults discovered 22 per cent aim to get away from screens for an average of 49 minutes per day and switch off from work by heading outdoors.

And one in four believe that it’s the only chance they can get for some peace and quiet away from the hectic life of the household.

It also emerged that two thirds of adults believe the way they spend time outside for leisure has changed in 2020.

But with long woodland walks likely to have been replaced with strolls around their local estate, 49% admitted to being concerned about air pollution levels.

The study was commissioned by Niquitin, which has partnered with the British Lung Foundation to empower people to take action and work towards healthier lungs.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “For the 12 million people in the UK affected by a lung condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it can pose a real and immediate threat to their health and overall quality of life.”

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of healthy, resilient lungs and now we must provide the information people need about air pollution, an otherwise invisible killer, to protect themselves and those around them.”

The study also found that despite being generally worried about the levels of air pollution around them, half of adults have no idea what the levels are in their local area.

As a result, four in 10 adults would like more information about local air pollution levels and the inherent resulting risks.

A further 46% would welcome stricter clean air regulations, while a third want to see ‘Clean Air Zones’.

Just under one tenth of respondents said it is difficult – or very difficult – to access what they consider to be clean air, from where they live.

But more than half also believe the Covid-19 pandemic has led them to do more to protect their lung health.

Because of this, a quarter have stopped exercising near busy roads and four in 10 have cut back on their driving, according to the Onepoll research.