If you feel drawn to the beach, relaxed by rain, and calmer after a swim, you might have a blue mind. In his book Blue Mind (Back Bay Books, 2015), the late marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols uses science to explain the connection between water and well-being. Nichols’ blue mind theory suggests that water in all forms is an antidote to the unhealthy, stressed-out pace of modern life.
No swimming pool? No problem. Dive into these easy ways to bring more water into your life.
Get close to wild water
Being near wild water, which includes all natural bodies of water from rivers to lakes to the ocean, may be especially beneficial. Observing water in a natural environment engages all the senses and promotes a positive state of mind. The continuous fluid movements of waves or even slight ripples can be gently hypnotic, inspiring a sense of awe and outward thinking while relaxing the brain into a loose, creative state. Let the trickle of a stream be your new relaxation soundtrack.