It will come as no surprise to most of us that the ocean has well-proven healing and calming powers. Just being by the beach or in the water can feel like a reset; this phenomenon is called ‘blue health’. Blue health is rooted in science, and it calms and supports our brain in many ways. Just being by the water can boost levels of dopamine and oxytocin, and reduce cortisol, keeping us calmer and more balanced. In St Andrews, we are lucky to have the sea on our doorstep, and this has probably benefited your mental and physical health without you actively noticing. Here’s where you can spot it, and how to make the most of it.
Blue Health in its Truest Form
If you’re willing to brave the cold water, there are lots of benefits to getting in the sea and getting stuck in with some watersports. Not only can it be a great way to spend some time with family and friends, but it’s also an easy and fun way to practice mindfulness. Whether you’re surfing, paddleboarding, or swimming, watersports often force you to focus on the activity at hand, making it easier to feel present and ‘live in the moment’. Surfers often wax lyrical about this effect; Dr Sam Bleakley focuses a lot of his work in finding your place in the environment whilst surfing. Mindfulness and presence from a watersports session can help to put things into perspective, and help you to find new solutions to problems or stresses in everyday life. If you’ve ever felt invigorated after May Dip, this is part of the reason why; once you’ve spotted it, you can purposefully incorporate it into your life and reap the benefits.
Blue Health in Sound
Particularly as a student, life is busy! Often, it can be hard to find time to rest, and to make sure that your rest is effective. The ocean can help here, too; sea air can help you sleep better, and for longer. Have you ever sat on the beach and started to feel sleepy? Maybe you’ve heard of people using wave sounds to sleep, or have tried it yourself? Here’s where you might have experienced the benefits. Sea air tends to be cleaner, and has more oxygen, which can improve the quality of your sleep. And those wave sounds? Not only can they soothe you into sleep, that relaxation can reduce stress and boost your immune system.
Blue Health in the Skin
Salt water is great for the skin. There is a lot more research to be done to confirm for certain what humans have believed for many years, but in the meantime, even dipping your toes in can help you to feel some of the benefits of blue health. A 1999 study found that minerals found in seawater can have anti-inflammatory properties for the skin. Many feel that time in the sea makes their skin feel softer and clearer, too. Regularly breathing ocean air might even decrease sinus pressure and improve lung function.
So next time you’re walking through town, or hear the waves breaking, take a moment to soak it in (literally, if you fancy braving the cold), breathe in that sea air, and make the most of all the healing properties simply living by the sea can provide.