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Lessen anxiety and nervous system arousal
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- Being in nature, a place you feel safe, can lower your blood pressure and stress hormone levels. Likewise, spending time at the beach can lessen anxiety and nervous system arousal, which is what makes you feel stressed and anxious. It lifts your mood. Time on the beach increases your self-esteem and promotes relaxation.
www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-benefits-of-the-beach
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Mar 2, 2022 · Why You Should Spend More Time at the Beach and the Ocean. If you’re looking for a break from work, spending time on the beach by the ocean is the perfect place to de-stress and de-compress. It’s not just about relaxing, but also about getting away from your daily routine and taking a break.
Jan 1, 2024 · Going to the beach is not just a fun summer activity, it also offers a wide range of benefits for your physical and mental well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the numerous advantages of spending time at the beach and why it should be a regular part of your fitness and nature routine.
- Overview
- How the Beach Boosts Your Mood
- How to Bliss Out on Your Beach Trip
There’s nothing quite as synonymous with summer as the beach — and we’ve got good news for those who flock to the surf and sand as soon as work lets out on Friday afternoon.
Research finds that spending time by the ocean is pretty good for your wellbeing. In fact, according to an analysis of English census data published in the journal Health Place, those who live by the coast report better physical and mental health than those who don’t.
And in a study published in the Journal of Coastal Zone Management, participants who live in homes with ocean views report feeling calmer than those without them.
So, it makes sense then that Hawaii has earned the ranking of happiest state in the U.S. by the annual Gallup poll six times since 2008, doesn’t it?
When it comes to why, exactly, the beach gets you feeling all Zen, there are a few factors at play, says Richard Shuster, PsyD, clinical psychologist and host of The Daily Helping podcast.
“The color blue has been found by an overwhelming amount of people to be associated with feelings of calm and peace,” says Shuster. “Staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.” A study published in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s journal even found that blue is associated with a boost of creativity.
The smell of the ocean breeze contributes to your soothed state, which may have something to do with the negative ions in the air that you’re breathing in.
Plus, that consistent ebbing and flowing you hear as you lie on your towel under an umbrella? “It kind of de-stimulates our brains,” says Shuster. The noises — coupled with the visuals — activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is “responsible for slowing us down and allowing us to relax and feel more engaged,” says Sally Nazari, PsyD, owner of Chrysalis Psychological Services and host of the podcast Beyond the Couch.
The smell of the ocean breeze also contributes to your soothed state, which may have something to do with the negative ions in the air that you’re breathing in. These oxygen atoms have an extra electron and occur in places like waterfalls and the ocean, says Shuster. A study published in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine suggests that negative ion therapy could be used to treat symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
Finally, the simple act of touching the sand makes you feel all fuzzy. “The physical sensation of putting your feet in warm sand causes people to relax,” says Shuster.
As much as we’d happily set up residence beachside on a Hawaiian island, you don’t actually have to live by the water to reap the benefits. It’s all about taking advantage of the time you spend there by practicing mindfulness.
Mindfulness has tons of mental health benefits including stress relief, says Nazari. A study published in the journal Psychiatry Research found that the brains of those who completed an eight-week mediation course changed in a few ways. For starters, the area of the brain responsible for stress shrunk in size. “This means that we become more resilient to handling stress and that stress doesn’t rattle us as much,” explains Nazari.
On the flip side, the parts of the brain responsible for memory, reasoning and empathy grew. An easier time thinking, focusing and connecting? That’s a pretty sweet deal — and just might make for a more productive Monday morning.
Staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.
To stay in the zone while you’re at the beach, say goodbye to Instagram … for now. “The best way to exercise mindfulness is to close your eyes and listen to the ocean waves rolling in and out,” says Shuster. “If you’re getting alerts from your phone, that’s going to detract from the experience.”
Above all, be aware of your senses. “Focus on how your body feels warm from the rays of the sun, focus on what it feels like to have your feet in the sand, breathe deep and smell the ocean air,” says Shuster.
Feb 13, 2019 · Being at the beach activates all of your senses. There’s the scent of salty air, the feel of the breeze, the warmth of the sun, the texture of the warm sand between your toes – it heightens all of your senses. It reminds you why it’s good to be alive!
- Emily Swaim
- Better breathing. Air pollution can trigger allergies, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, which you may already know. It might surprise you to learn, though, that indoor concentrations of air pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoor concentrations.
- Improved sleep. Typically, your body’s internal clock follows the sun, making you feel awake during the daytime and sleepy at night. Although artificial illumination can mimic natural light, direct sunlight has 200 times the intensity of office lights in a closed room.
- Reduced depression symptoms. Sunlight can often help ease depression symptoms like low mood and fatigue. Light therapy can help treat both major depression and seasonal depression.
- More motivation to exercise. Working out in green spaces could help boost your motivation to exercise in the future, in part because outdoor exercise can
Feb 25, 2024 · Likewise, spending time at the beach can lessen anxiety and nervous system arousal, which is what makes you feel stressed and anxious. It lifts your mood. Time on the beach increases...
The waves and the horizon offer a sense of calm and grounding that can alleviate stress, anxiety, and even sleep problems. The color blue of the sea and sky can boost creativity, while the grounding effect of walking barefoot on the beach can help us connect with the Earth.
