Finding Your Blue Mind

Have you ever noticed how a walk along a beach, or sitting beside a river, can leave you feeling calmer and more relaxed?   Today, this feeling is often described as Blue Mind.

We live in a fast-paced world that is driven by ever-evolving technology.   As a result of this, many people suffer from overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety.   Connecting with water offers a simple yet powerful way to slow down, recharge, and support our mental well-being.

In 2014, marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols published a bestselling book titled “Blue Mind”.   This includes the results of scientific research that underlines the importance of being near, in, or under water to our general well-being, including our mental health.   The author describes Blue Mind as: “A mildly meditative state characterised by calm, peace, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment.   This is not hippy dippy stuff, this is neuroscience.“   This is in stark contrast to the overstimulated, stressed state that many people experience in daily life.   Engaging with water can improve our senses in a gentle, restorative way.

Some 70% of our planet is covered with water, so we have plenty of opportunities to enjoy its benefits.    Whether it is a walk along a coast, sitting beside a lake, or watching a river flow by, being near water can help us feel calmer and more connected to the present moment.   Even small experiences, such as watching waves roll onto the shore or listening to rainfall, can create a sense of peace and relaxation.

Spending time near or in water can help our stress levels, too.   It actually helps to lower levels of the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for regulating our stress responses.

Water naturally draws attention to the present moment through movement, sound, and rhythm.   This makes it ideal for practising mindfulness, which is a powerful tool in boosting our mental health.   Activities such as swimming, paddle boarding, or coastal walking also combine exercise with the calming effects of water.

Wildlife is another thing that can engage our minds when we are near water.   It always lifts my spirits when I see a flash of blue as a kingfisher flies past at our local river.   I also know of a lake where there is an abundance of waterfowl, including swans, Egyptian geese, and moorhen.

On a coastal walk you might see sea birds, reptiles, and mammals.   In Hampshire, we have a population of harbour seals and grey seals.   Boat operators offer dedicated excursions, to see these wonderful creatures.

Not everyone has easy access to the coast, a river, or a lake.   However, Blue Mind can still be experienced in simple ways.   Listening to recordings of waves, rainfall, or flowing water can help create a sense of calm.   Watching videos of oceans, rivers, or waterfalls may also have a soothing effect.   Even a small water feature in a garden can provide a peaceful focus and encourage relaxation.

Water does not have to be part of a large landscape to be beneficial.   A warm bath can offer time to slow down and unwind.   Taking a mindful shower can also help bring attention to the present moment.   These small connections with water can help to create moments of calm and support overall well-being, wherever we live.

Blue Mind reminds us that water can help us to feel calmer and more at ease.   It gives us a chance to slow down and take a break from daily pressures.   Whether it is a walk by the sea or a river, the sound of rainfall, or a relaxing bath, these small moments can make a difference.   Water is all around us and it can offer a simple and accessible way to support our mental well-being.

(Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. By Wallace J Nichols.   Published by Back Bay Books.)