Most of us have experienced the unique sensation of peace that comes from being by the sea. Standing in front of a vast body of water can put things into perspective. Listening to the crash of the waves and feeling the wind on our skin can make us feel connected to nature.
But this isn’t just a sense or a feeling – because the idea that the sea can boost emotional wellbeing is now scientific fact.
Multiple studies show that natural water-based environments can have a powerful effect on both our physical and mental health.
In fact, these so-called “blue spaces” are so healing and restorative that experts suggest more watery spaces be created in urban areas, and doctors are now prescribing “blue therapy.”
Let’s take a closer look at how – and why – blue spaces can improve our health.
The idea that the sea might be healing isn’t new. Back in ancient times, doctors used to prescribe “sea air” as a cure for all kinds of major diseases. The fresh air and ocean views were seen as essential to a patient’s recovery, particularly for treating diseases like tuberculosis.
In recent years, the focus has been on the benefits of “green spaces,” with more and more burnt-out urban residents seeking peace in rural surroundings. The calming effects of being among nature have been widely studied. Today, it’s well-known that going for a country walk, relaxing in woodland, and adding plants to your home is good for us.
But ten years ago, a comprehensive study involving more than 20,000 participants found that people were by far the happiest when they were in blue spaces, not green. Multiple newer studies back up this conclusion. A 2020 study found that being close to blue spaces can improve mood. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show that they can reduce stress and anxiety too.
The benefits are not purely psychological. In 2021, researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University found that spending time in blue spaces can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.
So, what exactly is it about blue spaces that can be so healing – not just for our minds, but for our bodies too?
First, it’s important to consider that some of the benefits of blue spaces are also shared with green spaces. Living close to the water, particularly the sea, is linked to numerous positive measures of physical and mental wellbeing, from improved relationships to higher levels of vitamin D.
One reason for this is that both coastal and rural environments tend to have less polluted air and more sunlight; the latter of which can have a major effect on mood and wellbeing.
There’s also the fact that human beings are meant to be around nature. It’s only in recent years that humans have become a majority-urban species. For hundreds of thousands of years, we lived in forests and grasslands, beside rivers, lakes, and the sea.
As our connection to nature has dwindled, the prevalence of mental health disorders has rocketed. More and more evidence shows that human health, both physical and mental, is intrinsically connected to nature. Even the simple act of looking at images of natural surroundings can have a positive impact on brain activity, blood pressure, blood flow, and cortisol levels.
However, while being in both blue and green spaces is good for us, new evidence suggests blue is better. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 65% of people find being close to water boosts their mood and mental wellbeing – and there are specific reasons for this.
The reason that blue spaces have an edge over green spaces is because of the water itself. The rhythm and movement of water has an almost meditative quality. Watching the waves lap the shore or a river stream downhill can have a psychologically restorative effect. It can create a powerful sense of peace and calm – feelings that we then carry with us for the rest of the day.
Even the sound of water has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. There are two main kinds of attention: directed attention, which is when we’re focusing intensely on something; and non-directed attention, which is the involuntary attention we give to far-off noises or passing clouds. The sound of water stimulates our non-directed attention, allowing our busy minds to rest.
The noise of water – whether it’s the sound of waves crashing to the shore, the rush of river currents, or the drumming of raindrops – is classified as “pink noise.” It shares some similarities with white noise in that it comprises all the sound frequencies audible to the human ear but is quieter at the higher frequencies. Just like white noise, pink noise can also improve sleep and memory.
And finally, water has another advantage that you can’t get from spending time in a green space. Water-based activities like swimming, snorkelling, diving, or surfing create feelings of environmental attunement – the sense of feeling as though you’re part of the environment. So when you actually enter the water itself, its healing properties can become even more pronounced.
Research shows that spending time in blue spaces can improve mental wellbeing so significantly that some doctors have begun prescribing “blue therapy.” One example is the Blue Prescribing scheme run by charitable organisations in partnership with mental health foundations.
As part of the scheme, six-week blue therapy courses are prescribed to single parents, long-covid sufferers, and people suffering from chronic health conditions or poor mental health. Participants are invited to spend time at wetland centres where they go for guided walks and take time to appreciate their surroundings and spot wildlife. Participants report that being in this particular blue space clears their minds and stops them from thinking about what’s worrying them. They leave feeling light-hearted and refreshed.
Experts believe blue spaces won’t only be shown to treat health problems but to stop them from appearing in the first place. So what does this mean for us and how can we utilise blue spaces to improve our health?
As beneficial as being close to water may be, not all of us are lucky enough to live by the coast. Most of us don’t have lakeside homes with waterfront views. But you don’t actually need to live in a blue space to reap its benefits.
Psychologists suggest that just planning a break by the water – whether it’s camping by a lake or booking a beach hotel – can lift your mood. That can be hugely beneficial because you get the benefits of looking forward to the holiday as well as the actual time there.
If you live in a city, there are probably many small ways you can enjoy the benefits of blue spaces without leaving town. While the sea may be the most therapeutic form of blue space, it’s not the only one. Rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, and even fountains count as blue spaces as long as they’re aesthetically pleasing. Large bodies of water are best but any water is better than none.
Most landlocked cities are built around bodies of water like rivers or canals yet many of us take our town’s water features for granted.
It can help to try looking at your hometown through new eyes. For example, you could pretend you’re a tourist for a day and go for a walk along the river or canal, paying extra attention to what you can see, hear, and smell. This might be the light glinting on the water, chirping birds overhead or flowers’ scent in the air.
More good news is that councils are fast waking up to the benefits of blue spaces. Many are doing what they can do to create more blue spaces in urban areas – from regenerating canals to building fountains. In Kuala Lumpur, efforts to clean Klang river and to develop the surrounding areas have been a good efforts to invigorate this healing landscape.
While the healing power of the sea has long been in human consciousness scientific research has made it impossible to ignore the therapeutic benefits of the ocean – and water in general.
There’s something about natural bodies of water that captures the imagination and interrupts daily life’s busy momentum making us feel calm and rejuvenated.
Next time you feel stressed anxious or overwhelmed why not take some time for yourself and head out to coast? At very least you’ll get change scenery enjoy some invigorating sea air – hopefully return home whole different mindset healthy new mechanism dealing with stress.
