My Rediscovery Through Lululemon:
Connecting with Nature and Finding a
New Me
Kotoko Takahashi/ 23 December 2024
“Lululemon helped me rediscover a new me,”
The woman with a shiny smile said. She
is a typical Japanese woman who started working at Lululemon while enjoying her life with
outdoor activities, but she also mentioned how she used to spend a lot of time on her phone,
just like we do now, and it caused them some struggles too. In this interview, we’ll dig into her
story of how she joined Lululemon, connected with nature, stepped outside, and rediscovered
a new version of herself. We also share easy tips for everyday life, advice on how to enjoy
outdoor activities without stress, and all the details about upcoming events.
Her past and the first step outside
How often do you use your smartphone daily?
I used my smartphone probably 5 hours a day, I feel I use it less than these days.
Have you ever felt down or noticed negative physical changes from using your smartphone?
For a physical change, my eyesight has declined over the years. Mentally, there were times when I was comparing my life to others I saw on the internet, and that definitely took a toll on me.
What motivated you to start spending more time outdoors?
I just started to notice the positive effects it had on my mental health and wanted to have a good relationship with my mental health so that was the main cause that made me want to spend more time outdoors. And by chance, I came across a part-time job at Lululemon. I felt that the environment at Lululemon, where I could connect with nature while working, would be a great place for me to grow, so I started working at Lululemon.
Her life at Lululemon
What are your main responsibilities at Lululemon?
My main job is to work at the store and provide and support the customers that come into the store to buy some products. Other than that I’m also in a position to manage the inventory we keep in our stock room and support the community events that our store/Lululemon holds. (ex: events to connect with local people through sports, pop-up booths at marathons, and hiring events)
What kind of people work at Lululemon?
The people I meet through this job are some of the most hard-working and genuine people I’ve ever come across and they inspire me every day. they are all open-minded and accepting of who you are as a person, so they make me more comfortable and confident in myself. On top of that, they’re always taking on new challenges while truly enjoying life, and that’s been so inspiring for me.
What do you like most about Lululemon?
I like that it is such a diverse community and you get to grow as a person at every single opportunity we have. And simply it’s just a really fun environment to work at!
What part of Lululemon’s mission or brand story resonates with you the most?
I think it’s the cultural part that resonates with me most. Lululemon values health both physically and mentally and they believe in the possibilities that people have. And these are some of the most important values that I have within myself too.
What Nature Gives Her
How has working at Lululemon changed you?
It has inspired me to be more active on a daily basis and think more about what “healthy” is like. Then I added working out to my routine like running and playing sports.
How has your life changed since you started actively participating in outdoor activities?
It changed my mental health in a good way. I also started to wake up early and sleep earlier, so it changed my daily schedule in a good way. For me, the time doing outdoor activity is such an important time spent both physically and mentally. Not only does doing outdoor activities change your body more healthily, but I also feel like it has a very positive effect mentally. I feel much less stressed and more confident in myself.
What does nature mean to you personally?
I feel like nature is my safe space. When I’m in nature, no one is judging me and I can truly be myself in a huge open space, so I feel so free and refreshed when I’m in nature. So in that way, I could say that nature is my safe space.
What do you pay attention to when doing outdoor activities?
I try not to be too hard on myself for not being able to achieve my goal or not performing well every single day. I try to just enjoy the activity that I’m doing look on the positive side and not think negatively.
Does reflection become memories?!
Do you usually document your outdoor activities, like through photos or writing as a reflection of memories?
Yes, I like to document it with pictures or videos. I feel like having a physical image of what the activity was like is very fun to look back on and making a little vlog is also a really cute way of documenting it. We can keep them as memories!
Have you ever tried journaling?
I have done journaling in the past, however it didn’t really stick with me.
If there was a tool to record your outdoor activities, would you use it?
I’d love to use it! Being able to record my outdoor activities as memories would be great for looking back and making it like a personal album. I’d also like to stick in photos I take during the activities and customize them freely.
Tips for Enjoying the Outdoors Even with a Busy Schedule
How do you find time for outdoor activities in a busy schedule?
I try to do something even if I can only do it for 15 minutes and I will still be proud of it because it’s still better than doing none.
When your motivation drops, how do you keep yourself active?
I try to do it even just for 15 minutes and remind myself that I don’t need to do a crazy amount but just have fun.
What advice would you give young people who haven’t started exploring outdoor activities yet?
I would advise that you don’t have to be “good” at it but just enjoy doing it. start little by little and don’t pressure yourself into doing it every day. And also, I think it’d be easy to get started by doing it with family or friends. For example. We do hold some outdoor running events quite oftenly. The run itself would be around 1k-5k in a pace where people can talk with each other while running and just enjoy their company while running.
Wanna rediscover yourself in nature?
Her journey taught us that small steps can lead to meaningful change. It’s all about connecting with nature, not living through your smartphone. Try doing various activities and record those moments as memories. She believes that every moment spent outdoors will be worthwhile for us.
Why not join outdoor activity events hosted by Lululemon and Leuchtturm1917? Everyone is welcome – no matter your experience, age, or location. What matters is motivation! Our first event is on January 18th at 10 AM in Hyde Park. Come enjoy a walk amidst the beautiful winter scenery and meet fellow participants!
And don’t miss our special diary release, created through a unique collaboration between Lululemon and Leuchtturm1917. This diary is filled with ideas for outdoor activities and includes memory pages to capture your journey. Discover a new me, one page at a time!