Blue Mind science proves the health benefits of being by water
If you’re seeing red, feeling angry, anxious, and stressed, well, welcome to the postmodern experience. Don’t despair, however. Blue mind science—the study of aquatic environments’ health benefits—could offer the cure for your blues, for free, wherever you may be.
“People can experience the benefits of the water whether they’re near the ocean, a lake, river, swimming pool or even listening to the soothing sound of a fountain,” marine biologist and author of the 2014 book Blue Mind, Wallace Nichols, tells Quartz. ”Most communities are built near bodies of water not just for practical reasons, but because as humans, we’re naturally drawn to blue space…but even if you aren’t in an area where there is easy access to water, you can still experience [its] emotional benefits.”
Many scribes, poets, painters, and sailors have attested to the feeling of wellness and peace that comes over them when they’re in, or near, bodies of water. ”Whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can,” Herman Melville’s narrator declares in Moby Dick.
Now scientists are quantifying the positive cognitive and physical effects of water, too. It turns out that living by coasts leads to an improved sense of physical health and well-being, for example. And contact with water induces a meditative state that makes us happier, healthier, calmer, more creative, and more capable of awe.
“Water is considered the elixir and source of life. It covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, makes up nearly 70% of our bodies, and constitutes over 70% of our heart and brains,” says Nichols. “This deep biological connection has been shown to trigger an immediate response in our brains when we’re near water. In fact, the mere sight and sound of water can induce a flood of neurochemicals that promote wellness, increase blood flow to the brain and heart and induce relaxation. Thanks to science, we’re now able to connect the dots to the full range of emotional benefits being on, in, or near the water can bring.”
Researchers, city planners, and governments want to put this knowledge to practical use, turning water into a tool to promote community health. The European Union in 2016 initiated Blue Health 2020, for example. The four-year cross-disciplinary research project examines the effects of aquatic environments on body and mind, with the goal of exploring the best ways to use water to improve the well-being of people in busy cities.
“The majority of Europe’s population live in urban areas characterised by inland waterways and coastal margins,” the program website explains. Researchers are studying how to enhance coastlines, draw more people to rivers, and take advantage of the impact of streams on happiness and health, as well as how to use tools like virtual reality and video to induce the same state of calm brought on by being near water.
Red state, blue state
Nichols further argues that water is the antidote to “red mind” a state of anxiety created by increased urbanization and near-constant reliance on technology. A 2017 American Psychological Association report (pdf) on stress and technology noted that just under half of all adults and 90% of young adults have become “constant checkers,” engaging with screens and social media all the time. This, the APA says, has vastly increased levels of stress—both when tech works and when it doesn’t.
Spending time in and by oceans, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, and even showers can counter that. The waters ward off the depression and anxiety created by the relatively recent technological changes, according to Nichols. Almost all of the senses are engaged—sight, smell, hearing, and touch, and this physical immersion in reality makes us feel better, even though we sometimes imagine we can’t part with our phones for even a moment.
Contact with water also helps counter a dulled effect Nichols terms “gray mind.” Spending too much time inside, glued to screens, consuming news and entertainment, can lead to lethargy, lack of motivation, and dissatisfaction. Getting in, on, or near the water improves moods.
That said, even just looking at images of water makes people feel calmer, scientists find. Michael Depledge of the University of Exeter medical school in the UK and environmental psychologist Mat White conducted a wellbeing study involving photos with greenery and water. They began by showing subjects pictures of green environments slowly adding ponds lakes, and coasts. Subjects preferred environments with water. “We repeated that with urban scenes, from fountains in squares to canals running through the city, and once again people hugely preferred the urban environments with more water in them,” Depledge told the Guardian. “Images with green space received a postive response, as Ulrich has found. But images with both green and blue got the most favourable response of all.”
So, if you can’t get to the beach, fear not; there are alternatives. Showering can change your mind for the better and boost creativity, for example. “The shower is a proxy for the…ocean,” Nichols told the Huffington Post. “You step in the shower, and you remove a lot of the visual stimulation of your day. Auditorially, it’s the same thing—it’s a steady stream of ‘blue noise.’ You’re not hearing voices or processing ideas. You step into the shower and it’s like a mini-vacation.”
That break gives your mind a little space to come up with creative ideas and to have epiphanies. Albert Einstein had his most important realizations while sailing—water taught him physics principles, and though he wasn’t much of a sailor, he spent as much time as possible in a boat. Meanwhile, Abraham Loeb writes in Scientific American that many of his ideas come to him in the shower.
Michael Wenger, dean of Buddhist studies at the San Francisco Zen Center, recommends listening to water to clear the mind. He says that flowing or moving water is ‘white noise.’ Listening to the sound—allowing it to wash over you—is a meditative act that puts you in the moment.
Awe for all
“The use of sea and air is common to all; neither can a title to the ocean belong to any people or private persons, forasmuch as neither nature nor public use and custom permit any possession therof,” wrote Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century. This remains true today.
Princes and paupers, scientists and scribes, presidents, and Queen Bey herself have all waxed poetic about the magical effects of water on the body and mind. “I’m always happy when I’m surrounded by water, I think I’m a mermaid,” pop goddess Beyonce Knowles plausibly admits. ”The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.”
The feeling Knowles describes—awe—has numerous health benefits. It’s scientifically proven to calm, content, temper egos, expand the sense of wonder and vastness, and make us more generous. This emotion is often induced in natural settings, like forests and oceans.
Research on the benefits of “green space”—forests and other green environments—has shown many health and wellness benefits. The Japanese practice of forest bathing, and study of the medicinal effects of just being among trees, has led to increased scientific interest on water’s effects as well.
“Until recently, research that has focused on the health benefits of nature has overlooked the particular role of water, or “blue space,” Nichols tells Quartz. “It is more important than ever as time spent in nature, especially when it involves the calming aspect of water, is a valuable way to offset the stresses of living and working in modern contexts.”
He notes, too, that discussions of green space and its benefits nonetheless connote water, which the Earth and all its creatures rely upon. “It’s no surprise that it’s called forest ‘bathing,’ as water metaphors abound in our language, especially around emotional and mental wellness.”
https://qz.com/1347904/blue-mind-science-proves-the-health-benefits-of-being-by-water/
HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIVING NEAR THE WATER
1. YOU BREATHE FRESH AIR.
Air exposed to water – and especially sea water – is charged with a good amount of negative ions, this fresh air helps your body absorb oxygen. Fresh air is known to improve alertness and balance levels of serotonin, attributed to mood and stress. There is a reason we crave fresh air when we are experiencing something difficult. Fresh air is a healthy choice for the mind, body and soul.
2. YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Increased relaxation and decreased stress means a strengthened immune system. A strengthened immune system better positions us to fight off illnesses, diseases and unwanted health obstacles. Living near the water can achieve all of these objectives and more. And the best part? Once you live near water, it’s something you don’t even need to think about in order to benefit from it.
3. YOU SLEEP BETTER.
Exposure to water is known to relax the mind and body unlike anything else. Consider how many people enjoy going to sleep at night to white noise or a sound machine. It’s difficult to dispute that the sound of water is helpful for a good night’s rest. In many ways, seeing or living near water helps clear the mind of unwanted distractions or unpleasant thoughts. All of this allows the mind and body to relax into greater, deeper sleep. And the benefits of better sleep include greater rest and better rejuvenation each morning. Just being exposed to water on a regular basis improves health!
4. YOU INCREASE YOUR WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT.
Plants and trees, especially those near water, are known to give off chemicals called phytoncides. When humans breathe this in, it results in an elevated white blood cell count, which is great for fighting off illnesses or infections. Being outside and being around water is a natural immune booster.
5. YOU EXPERIENCE GREATER HAPPINESS.
The term “Blue Mind” refers to the meditative state the brain enters when we are exposed to water. Scientists have determined that looking at/enjoying water floods the brain with dopamine, or feel good hormones, naturally. Meaning people exposed to water are often more relaxed and happier in general.
6. YOU RELAX.
Water can be very therapeutic. Engaging in simple activities such as fishing or walking can help reduce stress and fight off the negative effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a hard situation. Especially if you battle anxiety or depression, water can be very helpful in overcoming the difficult side effects associated.
7. YOU LENGTHEN YOUR LIFE.
That’s right! Living by the water and enjoying the great outdoors can actually add healthy days to your life. Getting even a moderate amount of leisure time and light physical activity (including walking along the beach front or picking up shells) can increase life expectancy, according to the National Cancer Institute. What’s not to love about that?
The importance of some rest and relax time for your health
It is important to get a little rest and relax time to activate our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). PNS stimulates digestion and restoration functions in our body.
I quite often refer to it as the green zone; the zone that allows us to relax and experience amazing overall health benefits including better sleep and improved gut health.
On the other hand the red zone refers to fight or flight mode and is when our body is under a lot of stress.
The green zone is where one is able to recharge, reflect on life and be grateful for all the things you have and will be working on to achieve. We are often in the red zone; whether it be stress from work, relationship struggles, having too much on our plate or feeling disappointed and being too hard on ourselves. Long term effects of living in the red zone can eventually lead to various health issues such as high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome.
“Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confident, so that’s very important for good health”- Dalai Lama
It’s not too hard to get yourself in the green zone, or learn to. Here are some tips to get there.
- TRUST Yourself
Trust yourself that you are enough and loved. Stop wanting to please others and putting unnecessary pressure on yourself. Where you are now is part of your journey and reaching your goals will happen through patience and perseverance. Taking daily action is what matters.
“We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile”. – Earl Nightingale
- BREATHE
Extending the length of your breath and moving your diaphragm up and down will communicate to your body that you are safe and calm. Meditation or engaging in restorative exercises like yoga, tai chi or qigong can help with breathing techniques. - SLEEP
Aim for 7-9 hours solid sleep per night. If you are having issues sleeping then have a look at the caffeine content you are having during the day and the exposure to light from electronic devices before bed. Make sure you are not exposed to these at least half an hour before you plan to sleep. - DIGESTION
Make sure you don’t have such a big meal before bed so that your body can rest instead of spending energy to break down the foods. This is often the reason why people feel exhausted in the morning after late, heavy meals. Also make sure that you are properly chewing your food (chewing 50 times before swallowing). It helps to minimise consumption of processed food (yes thats chocolate and potato chips) as it doesn’t digest efficiently in your body. A tip to aid with digestion would be to have a glass of warm water with lemon juice or a glass of apple cider vinegar in the morning half an hour before you begin your meal. - Take a BREAK and PAMPER yourself
Going overseas, or even for a road trip! Get away from the environment you are always in so that you are in a position to really recharge yourself! Taking a break gives you time to clear your mind and make better decisions as you are not in a constant state of stress! For those who feel they can’t travel or are responsible for kids, organise a babysitter for a few hours and go out with your friends for a massage or high tea! Personally I am a fan of nature so a hike and enjoying breath-taking views are a top choice.
- Learn to say NO. This is especially important to those like myself who have a habit of saying yes when we don’t want to , for the fear of disappointment. We have to better manage our time and energy for the things that matter to us. Get rid of the FOMO (Fear-Of-Missing-Out syndrome).
- Schedule NON-NEGOTIABLE TIME
Commit to events by blocking out time off your daily schedule. For example I attend at least 3 studio classes a week and the times I have allocated to attend the class I do not change anything around for. - Have a MORNING RITUAL
This will set your intentions for the rest of the day. It could include a workout, meditation or reading inspirational content. - Schedule THREE LOTS OF ONE HOUR TIME-BLOCKS
You can use this time to return phone calls, text and emails. Constantly replying these on the spot can can mess your flow and cause stress with time management. - Exercising GRATITUDE in your daily life. Be grateful for life. This will leave you in a state of calm and everything you choose to do you will see sense and purpose in, which leads to more fulfilment and hence happiness.
Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”- Zig Ziglar
I can say life is much more enjoyable in the green zone! We are not perfect and there are days we get caught up again in the red zone but most importantly we can identify this and engage in activities that allow us to get back into the green zone. With a healthy mind and body we can achieve much more. With that said PEACE and CHILL out!
Angel 