I’ve always said that water is my happy place. There is a connectedness and feeling of peace that being by water, or ‘blue spaces’, creates for me.
The reality is that I’m not alone: Many people find it relaxing to be near water. But did you know there might be health benefits to blue spaces? Whether you spend a weekend at a nearby lake or live by a river or the sea, being near water can be a boost for your well-being.
Being Near Water Enhances Mental Wellness
Blue spaces are bodies of water and areas near bodies of water. This can include lakes, rivers, beaches, bays, landlocked seas and more. Various studies have found that these blue spaces provide physical and mental health benefits.
We’ve long known that green spaces are good for our health, and now research shows that bodies of water known as “blue spaces” are just as beneficial. According to organizational psychologist Adam Grant, it only takes 2 minutes to feel the beneficial effects of being in, around or under water.
With particular advantages for reducing stress, alleviating rumination or worry and promoting a sense of relaxation, these spaces are becoming increasingly popular. According to experts, if you’re around a body of water, you inherently feel calmer and more at ease. A growing body of modern evidence (Britton et.al.) supports the claim that blue spaces are good for our mental wellness.
Water Promotes Social Interaction
Exposure to blue spaces also seems to promote social interactions and prosocial behaviour — which are good for your physical and mental health. Blue spaces provide a gathering location, which encourages people to get to know and interact with one another, decreasing feelings of loneliness.
The Calming Experience Of Water
Our sensory experience is critically important to how we perceive the world. Psychologically speaking, the sights, sounds and smell of water provide a calming (Beil et. al.) experience that promotes a uniquely positive state of mind. Visiting blue spaces can enhance your feeling of being connected to nature and something bigger. This can also boost your mental health.
Water Initiates Mindfulness
Water is dynamic, so it holds our attention in a peculiar way. It tends to instill a trance-like quality that allows us to quiet our minds. When you’re focused on the water, or listening to the sounds of waves, you’re more able to live in the moment and tune out all the other noise. Being near water engages the brain without overwhelming it. This can facilitate a gentle self-awareness and an opportunity for introspection.
Water Encourages Physical Activity
People who live near water or seek out blue spaces tend to be more physically active. Remember, exercise isn’t only for your body: Physical health has well-established mental health benefits too. Even if you don’t get in the water to swim, boat or surf, you’re more likely to engage in activities like walking, playing team sports or cycling.
Integrating Blue Spaces into Your Wellness Plan
Blue spaces provide benefits that are great for our mood and thinking. Being near water can help you feel calmer, more relaxed and balanced, but it’s not a substitute for mental health care.
Use blue spaces as a boost to your well-being and then work with a therapist, psychiatrist or coach to help you develop the tools needed to maintain your mental health on a long-term basis. These professionals can also help you get the maximum therapeutic benefit from blue or green spaces.
Take Away
More evidence is emerging that exposure to water has a positive and measurable effect on our mental, emotional and behavioral health. Finding your own blue space, whether it’s near a lake, river or ocean will boost your overall wellness. These ‘blue spaces’ are becoming increasingly more common as a way for people to alleviate their stress and achieve a state of inner calm.
If you’d like to read more on this topic, there’s a great book by Wallace J. Nichols.
Sources
Michail Georgiou, Gordon Morison, Niamh Smith, Zoë Tieges and Sebastien Chastin. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: “Mechanisms of Impact of Blue Spaces on Human Health: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis” 2021 Mar; 18(5) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7967635/
Easkey Britton, Gesche Kindermann, Christine Domegan and Caitriona Carlin. Health Promotion International: “Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeing”. Volume 35, Issue 1, February 2020, Pages 50–69, https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/35/1/50/5252008
Richard G. Coss & Craig M. Keller. Journal of environmental psychology: “Transient decreases in blood pressure and heart rate with increased subjective level of relaxation while viewing water compared with adjacent ground.” Volume 1, june 2022 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422000391
Catherine de Lange. Why spending time near water gives us a powerful mental health boost. July 13, 2022 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533950-700-why-spending-time-near-water-gives-us-a-powerful-mental-health-boost/
Kurt Beil and Douglas Hanes. The Influence of Urban Natural and Built Environments on Physiological and Psychological Measures of Stress—A Pilot Study. April 2013, Volume 10 (4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709315/