Credits: Social Media
75% of women alter their nighttime activities as the days get shorter and nights darker
A new survey has revealed that 75% of women alter their nighttime exercise routines over fears that most men could not begin to comprehend.
Physical exercise is crucial not only for our physical health but for our mental health too, and you don’t even have to consistently work out or hit 10k steps every day to reap the rewards. Only one thing is for certain – get that beautiful body moving.
Women change their nightly exercise during the winter
Daylight savings time is officially over, and with it, the long sunny days we have become accustomed to over the year. Car crashes increase, we get an extra hour in bed, and as it gets dark earlier, women are altering their routines for better safety.
In a new survey from Sport England, commissioned by This Girl Can campaign, nearly three-quarters of women (72%) admitted to altering their nightly routines as the days get shorter.
Interestingly, 24% stick to well-lit routes on their workout, while 23% avoid specific areas altogether over fears of safety. A shocking 20% admit to frequently glancing behind them to ensure they’re not being followed.
A similar study from 2023 revealed that 46% of women were changing their outdoor activity routines during the darker months.
“Women should have the freedom to run, walk, or cycle without the fear of what might happen in the dark,” Kate Dale, director of marketing, said. “Yet many feel they have no choice but to change their routes, routines, or avoid exercising outdoors completely when the sun goes down. This isnt just inconvenient its an injustice. Violence against women and girls is an epidemic, and our research suggests that womens safety fears getting active in winter have worsened over the past year. This should be a wake-up call for everyone women, men, allies, and all sectors to confront the issue head-on, with urgency and action.”
“Lets Lift the Curfew is demanding lasting change so that every woman can move freely and safely. Women deserve to feel confident, strong, and safe when theyre getting active, day or night, and we wont stop until that becomes the reality,” she added.
The study echoes safety concerns shared by Saoirse Ronan
This Girl Can’s latest statistics echo statements recently shared by Irish actress Saoirse Ronan while appearing on the UK’s The Graham Norton Show.
Joined by Eddie Redmayne, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington, Saoirse Ronan listened on as Eddie discussed his recent work on The Day of the Jackal. The actor had learned self-defense techniques, including one using a smartphone, which seemed to strike a chord with Paul Mescal.
Who is actually going to think about that? If someone actually attacked me, Im not going to go phone, he said, as Saoirse chimed in with, “Thats what girls have to think about all the time.”
The actress’s comments were widely celebrated online, with one penning: “The fact that these guys– nice guys, mind– are just so unaware is almost terrifying. thank goodness for Saoirse though because we all need a bit more attention drawn to this.”
