Did you know that you can cure the blues with a trip to the seaside? Blue health activities – that is things that bring you close to, or into, the water – have been scientifically proven to boost your wellbeing. So the feel-good factor of a beach holiday isn’t purely due to its association with time off and relaxation. Blue health research and blue mind theories prove that time by the sea does wonders for your health – from lowering stress levels to enhancing sleep.
So what are you waiting for? There’s no better time to get away or organise your blue health break by the sea. Whether you want to watch the rolling surf with your toes in the sand, stroll along the clifftops, or take the plunge for a wild swim, here are some ways to connect with blue spaces and feel great on your next seaside holiday.
Try Wild Swimming
There’s a good reason that wild swimming has become so popular. Plunging into cold water has all sorts of benefits, from boosting your immune system and reducing inflammation to alleviating stress, improving your mood and even delaying the onset of degenerative diseases such as dementia. When you feel the rush of immersion into the watery playground, you’re activating the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and increasing your levels of dopamine and serotonin. We could wax lyrical about the scientific benefits, or you could just get yourself down to the seaside for a blue health break and dive in. Wild swimming is popular in many coastal hotspots including Cornwall, Devon, Suffolk and Anglesey.
Take A Coastal Walk
You don’t even have to dip a toe in the ocean to feel the flush of its powers. Just taking a walk and breathing in the sea air helps lift your mood, as negatively charged ions help to absorb oxygen and increase serotonin levels – the all-essential hormone for regulating your mood. So whether you stroll along the pier with an ice cream in hand, or tackle calf-busting cliff paths to take in giddy views, it’s not just the eye-popping scenery that will leave you feeling high on life. And if you shed your shoes and wander barefoot along the sand, the direct contact with the elements leaves you feeling even more grounded and connected to nature, while massaging the soles of your feet and improving circulation. What’s more, it’s one of the easiest and most natural wellbeing activities to do on a coastal holiday.
Go Surfing
Ever wondered why surfing has become one of the most popular water sports in the UK? Well, there are so many reasons it leaves you grinning and wanting more. Being immersed in the waves and focused on your next ride promotes mindfulness, taking us away from any negative thought patterns. Plus, playing in the waves stimulates the vagus nerve, calms our fight-or-flight response and releases dopamine (our happy hormone) in bucket loads. What with surfing schools lined up on almost every wave-lashed beach in the UK, and kit for every weather, don’t you think it’s time to tap into the good feelings that surf promotes? For surfing adventures, head to Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire or the west coast of Ireland.
Watch The Waves
Don’t fancy jumping in the surf to experience the calming effect of the waves? Simply watching the ocean brings us back into the moment, reducing stress levels by distracting us from internal thought patterns as our focus is drawn to the movement and light. This mindfulness decreases stress and snaps us into a different, more positive mindset. Whether you gaze out to sea with your morning coffee or lay out a picnic spread on the beach, make sure you pause and let yourself be mesmerised by the movement of the ocean. It’s certainly one of the less strenuous ways to enjoy a blue health break on a coastal holiday.
Meditate Beside The Sea
The colour blue is associated with calmness and feelings of peace, and simply relaxing beside the waves can lure us into a mild meditative state and promote blue health. Ease yourself into a deeper meditation by focusing your gaze on the ocean, tuning into to the sound of the waves and breathing in time to the ebb and flow. When busy thoughts pop into your mind, gently push them away and hone back into the soothing sounds and sights of the elements. Even a brief meditation beside the big blue will increase the blood flow to your brain, lower cortisol levels (a stress-inducing hormone) and enhance the production of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
Do a Beach Clean
Being by the sea and realising the ocean’s influence on us, as well as our influence over the ocean, encourages us to protect and improve the environment we love. Simple actions such as picking up rubbish, realising the importance of leaving just footprints, and the desire to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, can all be aroused by reconnecting with nature on a holiday beside the sea. There are organised beach cleans all over the country, including regular community meet-ups in Cornwall and Devon. Next time you’re padding along the beach, pick up any plastic and rubbish along your way and feel great about taking care of the environment that makes you happy.
Time For A Blue Health Break?
Boasting thousands of miles of coastline, the UK is an enviable destination for a blue health break beside the sea. Check out our range of seaside holiday cottages where you can adopt a blue mindset and boost your health and wellbeing by the beach.
Find out more about the wellbeing effects of spending time near the ocean, read our detailed guide on the benefits of blue health.
