{"id":7763,"date":"2023-09-29T00:16:59","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T17:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7763"},"modified":"2023-09-29T00:16:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T17:16:59","slug":"blue-mind-theory-taking-a-daily-dip-for-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7763","title":{"rendered":"Blue Mind Theory: Taking a Daily Dip for Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">A<\/span>s a born and bred Floridian, I\u2019ve always felt most at home around water. Starting at the age of eight or so, I welcomed the exhaustion of competitive swimming, red-rimmed chlorine eyes becoming my norm. Though I quit before high school, something happened during all those practices that connected me to the feeling of being in or near water\u2014so much so that I felt noticeably less at ease when I moved inland for college.<\/p>\n<p>What I\u2019d later learn is that it\u2019s not just a \u201cme\u201d thing: Studies show that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7967635\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7967635\/\">regular exposure to blue spaces<\/a>\u2014which encompass waterscapes and their surroundings\u2014can boost your well-being. In fact, that\u2019s the impetus behind \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wallacejnichols.org\/122\/bluemind.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wallacejnichols.org\/122\/bluemind.html\">blue mind theory<\/a>,\u201d which recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ronjaedsmo\/video\/7230592772011478298\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ronjaedsmo\/video\/7230592772011478298\">blew up on TikTok<\/a> but was conceptualized in 2015 by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols in his titular book <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBlue-Mind-Surprising-Healthier-Connected%2Fdp%2F0316252115%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx939-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fblue-mind-theory%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fblue-mind-theory%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Blue-Mind-Surprising-Healthier-Connected\/dp\/0316252115\"><em>Blue Mind<\/em><\/a> (the subtitle of which says it all: <em>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).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>When you\u2019re in or around water, you enter what marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols calls the blue mind, a mildly meditative state of peacefulness and satisfaction.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The idea behind blue mind theory? When you\u2019re in or around water, you enter what Nichols calls the blue mind, a mildly meditative state of peacefulness and satisfaction. You\u2019re calmer, more at ease, and feel more connected to yourself and others.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Blue Mind<\/em> became a bible of sorts for me in college, as it defined and explained the science behind a feeling that I\u2019d always suspected to be true: I\u2019m just a happier version of myself when I\u2019m near water. It\u2019s why I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, post-graduation, where I would be surrounded by the ocean. And after short stints in places like New York City and Park City, it\u2019s what also brought me back to Honolulu this year.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout my time in Hawaii, I\u2019ve always assumed the proximity to the shoreline would be enough for me to feel at ease\u2014that hours spent walking or lying on the sandy beach would do the trick. (And certainly, my mental state has been better while I\u2019ve had easy access to the coast than it was when I lived in land-locked places.) But it wasn\u2019t until a trip to Iceland this past spring inspired me to try immersing myself <em>in<\/em> the ocean every day that I experienced the most profound well-being effects of the blue mind.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-mind-theory\/\" current-title=\"I Dipped or Swam in a Body of Water Every Day for a Month To Test the Wellness-Boosting \u2018Blue Mind Theory\u2019\u2014Here\u2019s What I Learned\" current-image=\"WG_Editorial__I-Tried-it_-Lake-Dip-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-03-28\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-mind-theory\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-mind-theory\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/blue-mind-theory\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>How Icelanders reap the benefits of blue mind theory<\/h2>\n<p>In Iceland, the sunlight depends on the season thanks to the country\u2019s proximity to the Arctic Circle. During the summer, it\u2019s bright for most of the day, and blackout curtains are aplenty. During the other seasons, however, the sun might only emerge for a few hours a day. But while you might expect Icelanders to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) at a relatively high rate, studies show the exact opposite: Rates of SAD are <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11926077\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11926077\/\">markedly lower in Icelanders than they are in other populations<\/a>. In fact, Iceland was even ranked the <a href=\"https:\/\/worldhappiness.report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/worldhappiness.report\/\">third happiest country in the world<\/a> in the 2023 World Happiness Report, slotting in just behind Finland and Denmark.<\/p>\n<p>While some of this Icelandic resilience to the harsh climate may be due to a genetic heartiness forged over generations, University of Iceland professor of folkloristics and ethnology <a href=\"https:\/\/iris.rais.is\/en\/persons\/valdimar-tryggvi-hafstein\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/iris.rais.is\/en\/persons\/valdimar-tryggvi-hafstein\">Hafstein Valdimar Tryggvi, PhD<\/a>, has widely contested that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/03\/20\/health\/iceland-pool-culture\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/03\/20\/health\/iceland-pool-culture\/index.html\">the reason Icelanders experience such high levels of well-being<\/a> in light of the gloomy circumstances is their affinity for bathing in geothermally heated pools year-round.<\/p>\n<p>In Iceland, every town has an outdoor public pool (of which there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.krauma.is\/history-of-geothermal-spas-in-iceland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.krauma.is\/history-of-geothermal-spas-in-iceland\">more than 120<\/a>), which studies show to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/314306310_Enjoying_the_outdoor_pool_in_a_cold_climate_Appropriate_technology_utilisation_of_geothermal_resources_and_the_socialisation_of_everyday_practices_in_Iceland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/314306310_Enjoying_the_outdoor_pool_in_a_cold_climate_Appropriate_technology_utilisation_of_geothermal_resources_and_the_socialisation_of_everyday_practices_in_Iceland\">most-frequented gathering places nationwide<\/a>. Since 1934, swimming instruction has been required in all Icelandic schools, so the practice is ingrained early, and Icelanders are known to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visiticeland.com\/article\/swimming-pool-culture-in-iceland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.visiticeland.com\/article\/swimming-pool-culture-in-iceland\">layer swimming into their daily lives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cYour heart rate can decrease, and you can feel less stressed [when in or near water].\u201d \u2014Olivia McAnirlin, PhD, co-director of Clemson University&#8217;s Virtual Reality &amp; Nature Lab<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0272494422000391\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0272494422000391\">ample exposure to water may have soothing powers<\/a> for Icelanders, as it helps to dial down the \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d (aka sympathetic) nervous system and turn up the \u201crest-and-digest\u201d (parasympathetic) nervous system in its stead. \u201cYour heart rate can decrease, and you can feel less stressed [when in or near water],\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/cbshs\/about\/profiles\/index.html?userid=omcanir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/cbshs\/about\/profiles\/index.html?userid=omcanir\">Olivia McAnirlin, PhD<\/a>, co-director of the Clemson University Virtual Reality &amp; Nature Lab, an interdisciplinary program which studies people\u2019s connections to the natural world.<\/p>\n<p>Research has also found that the sensory inputs of natural settings (like blue spaces)\u2014say, the contrast of blue ocean against the horizon or the lapping of waves\u2014have a way of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6616085\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6616085\/\">passively centering your attention<\/a>, leading to greater clarity of mind. And there\u2019s also the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liebertpub.com\/doi\/10.1089\/eco.2017.0044\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.liebertpub.com\/doi\/10.1089\/eco.2017.0044\">potential for experiencing awe<\/a> while submerged in a natural body of water; this can <a href=\"https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/images\/uploads\/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Awe_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/images\/uploads\/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Awe_FINAL.pdf\">put the brain in a \u201cself-transcendent\u201d state<\/a>, meaning it\u2019s focused less on itself and more on your existence as one part of a larger whole. The result: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC10018061\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC10018061\/\">a more positive mood and stronger feelings of connection with others<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Though Dr. McAnirlin notes that some of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/calming-effect-water\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/calming-effect-water\/\">benefits encompassed by blue mind theory can be channeled by experiences<\/a> such as watching waves lap the shore or even listening to a recording of beachy sounds, she contends that the Icelandic practice of regularly dipping in the water can maximize the wellness-boosting effects.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Dr. McAnirlin\u2019s co-director at the Clemson Virtual Reality &amp; Nature Lab, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/cbshs\/about\/profiles\/index.html?userid=mhb2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/cbshs\/about\/profiles\/index.html?userid=mhb2\">Matthew Browning, PhD<\/a>, says that the advantages of being <em>in<\/em> the water go far beyond what is seen and heard. \u201cThey also encompass engaging in physical activity, experiencing beneficial changes in the cardiovascular system [during cold immersion], and soaking up vitamin D from sunlight.\u201d It\u2019s no wonder Icelanders have taken to the water so readily.<\/p>\n<h2>Experiencing Icelandic bathing culture firsthand<\/h2>\n<p>When I had the opportunity to visit Reykjav\u00edk, Iceland on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyplay.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.flyplay.com\/\">the inaugural flight of a low-cost airline route<\/a> from Washington, D.C. this spring, I couldn&#8217;t wait to take a dip in the beloved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skylagoon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.skylagoon.com\/\">Sky Lagoon<\/a>. This particular pool is filled with hot geothermal water pumped from beneath the Earth\u2019s surface and mixed with cool freshwater, and it\u2019s built into cliffs overlooking the ocean in a way that immerses its visitors in nature.<\/p>\n<p>Wading into the water of the Sky Lagoon for the first time, I quickly entered a state of awe, feeling a growing sense of oneness with the world around me\u2014and the friend who\u2019d come with me. As we alternated between deep conversation and comfortable silence, I found that I felt freer in talking to her than I have in other settings, like we were bonding over the shared experience of beauty and comfort.<\/p>\n<p>For as long as I moved languidly through the pool, my thoughts took on a dreamy texture. Everything from the jagged rocks to the grassy hills to the other people swimming around me seemed soft and welcoming. And the warmth of the water (a toasty 100 to 104\u00b0 Fahrenheit) was deeply relaxing.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s customary to pair a dip in the Sky Lagoon with a multi-step spa ritual, but my friend and I lingered for close to an hour before moving through the other steps: a cold plunge, warm sauna, cold mist, body scrub, cloudy steam room, and shower.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>What really got me was the feeling of being immersed in the warm water of the lagoon, effortlessly buoyant.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>What really got me, though, was the feeling of being immersed in the warm water of the lagoon, effortlessly buoyant. The water both lulled and refreshed me\u2014and by the time our slot was over, my fingers had pruned, our taxi was outside waiting for us, and we were still in the lagoon making the most of every second we had left.<\/p>\n<p>All I could think was: <em>What if I, like so many Icelanders, made a dip in the water a part of my daily ritual, too? <\/em>After all, I had no excuse not to try: I live within a few minutes\u2019 drive of the ocean, in Honolulu, which meant it would take only minimal effort to see what might come of feeling that buoyant sensation every day. So, I decided to challenge myself to get into the water each day for 30 days straight this summer.<\/p>\n<h2>My experiment with blue mind theory: Getting into a body of water every day for a month<\/h2>\n<h3>Week 1<\/h3>\n<p>During the first week of my blue-mind challenge, my enthusiasm often made it easy for me to hop into my car in the afternoon and head to the ocean (a 15-minute drive, though sometimes longer with Honolulu traffic). Then there were the days I simply wanted to float there and be still, people-watching the shore or bobbing in the waves. I\u2019d always been bad at meditation, and this felt like a functional replacement.<\/p>\n<h3>Week 2<\/h3>\n<p>During the second week, my dips in the ocean had more variety. Some days, my challenge meant wading into the water fully clothed after a sweaty run. Other days, I took my workout to the water in a full-on swim, tracing laps in the shallow surf until I\u2019d hit a certain time threshold.<\/p>\n<p>A book I love, <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWhy-We-Swim-Bonnie-Tsui%2Fdp%2F1616207868%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx939-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fblue-mind-theory%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fblue-mind-theory%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Why-We-Swim-Bonnie-Tsui\/dp\/1616207868\"><em>Why We Swim<\/em><\/a> by Bonnie Tsui, says that we can experience a unique state of flow\u2014the sensation of being \u201cin the zone,\u201d in which you are both absorbed by and solely focused on something\u2014while submerged in water, and that an evolutionary desire for survival maximizes the potential for entering a flow state while swimming.<\/p>\n<p>As I swam for short bursts during this second week of my challenge, I developed a new appreciation for the flow state of swimming. I focused on the sensation of water cradling my body and waves lapping at my heels, of endorphins coursing through my system while I worked my muscles. Unable to listen to music or otherwise distract myself, I was suddenly, startlingly present, but often lost my grip on time: completely in the zone.<\/p>\n<h3>Week 3<\/h3>\n<p>By this point, admittedly, I started getting tired of my drive, more specifically finding parking near the beach. I found myself thinking: <em>Wouldn\u2019t a shower have a similar effect as wading into the ocean? <\/em><em>Didn\u2019t that count as being in water?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While this blue-mind challenge was new to me, upon sharing it with a few friends, several of them mentioned having made a similar bet with themselves when they\u2019d first moved to Honolulu. But things got in the way. Traffic down the boulevard was a disaster after work. <em>Wouldn\u2019t it be so much easier to just\u2014not?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As I convinced myself to continue with my newfound ritual regardless, the benefits became more about the personal nature of the challenge and less about the water. I was blocking off specific time to be away from my phone and distractions, for one. It was also a conscious time I\u2019d mapped out to listen to my body. I always felt small and quiet and part of the natural flow of things during my ocean dips, even if\u00a0I could only spare thirty seconds or so.<\/p>\n<h3>Week 4<\/h3>\n<p>The fourth and final week of my challenge felt particularly significant because I was traveling to a lakeside cottage on the east coast and therefore jet-lagged. And it was also my busiest work week of the year, a time when I knew I\u2019d be glued to my computer, feeling unable to devote any time or attention to hopping in the lake.<\/p>\n<p>But, luckily, that lake <em>was<\/em> only steps away, which made staying committed to my challenge even less time-consuming than it had been at home. And the change of scenery infused my daily dips with new meaning\u2014though one night, I nearly forgot and had to jump into the lake close to midnight, which turned into a giggly skinny dip.<\/p>\n<h2>The takeaway from my experiment with blue mind theory<\/h2>\n<p>My daily blue-mind-inspired routine provided a potent state change\u2014a calming, mind-clearing interruption to the monotony of working from home. If there\u2019s one thing I hate, it\u2019s realizing I\u2019ve been inside all day, and the sun\u2019s about to go down. Daily water immersion became a remarkably efficient way to do all the things that make me feel immediately refreshed: getting outside, being consistent, and perhaps most poignantly, channeling the awe of the natural beauty around me.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, something about toweling off after each dip gave me that same satisfying feeling of wrapping up a quick workout\u2014that full-body exhale of committing to being damp (except with salty sea water, in the case of my challenge, instead of perspiration). Maybe that\u2019s what made my muscles unclench and my limbs feel loose and comfortable for the rest of the day, even if my ocean dip had lasted just a few seconds.<\/p>\n<p>While I did sign up for a membership at a pool close to my home when the 30 days ended, and I still spend most days hurtling down to the shore when I have a spare second, I haven\u2019t made it out to swim every day since (though the thought is even more appealing since completing the challenge). Despite months of being a tragically bad surfer, I\u2019ve also resolved to venture out on my board nearly daily, even when that means getting humbled by the whitewash. Just don\u2019t ask me to cold plunge regularly (yet).<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<p>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/p>\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Georgiou, Michail et al. \u201cMechanisms of Impact of Blue Spaces on Human Health: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.\u201d\u00a0<i>International journal of environmental research and public health<\/i>\u00a0vol. 18,5 2486. 3 Mar. 2021, doi:10.3390\/ijerph18052486            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Axelsson, J\u00f3hann et al. \u201cSeasonal affective disorders: relevance of Icelandic and Icelandic-Canadian evidence to etiologic hypotheses.\u201d\u00a0<i>Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie<\/i>\u00a0vol. 47,2 (2002): 153-8. doi:10.1177\/070674370204700205            <\/li>\n<li>\n              J\u00f3nsson, \u00d6rn, and \u00d3lafur Rastrick. \u201cEnjoying the Outdoor Pool in a Cold Climate: Appropriate Technology, Utilisation of Geothermal Resources and the Socialisation of Everyday Practices in Iceland.\u201d\u00a0<i>Geothermal Energy<\/i>, vol. 5, 12 2017, https:\/\/doi.org10.1186\/s40517-017-0060-5.            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Coss, Richard, and Craig Keller. \u201cTransient Decreases in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate with Increased Subjective Level of Relaxation While Viewing Water Compared with Adjacent Ground.\u201d <i>Journal of Environmental Psychology<\/i>, vol. 81, 03 2022, p. 101794, https:\/\/doi.org10.1016\/j.jenvp.2022.101794.            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Stenfors, Cecilia U D et al. \u201cPositive Effects of Nature on Cognitive Performance Across Multiple Experiments: Test Order but Not Affect Modulates the Cognitive Effects.\u201d\u00a0<i>Frontiers in psychology<\/i>\u00a0vol. 10 1413. 3 Jul. 2019, doi:10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.01413            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Ballew, Matthew T., and Allen M. Omoto. \u201cAbsorption: How Nature Experiences Promote Awe and Other Positive Emotions.\u201d <i>Ecopsychology<\/i>, vol. 10, no. 1, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, Mar. 2018, pp. 26\u201335. https:\/\/doi.org10.1089\/eco.2017.0044.            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Monroy, Maria, and Dacher Keltner. \u201cAwe as a Pathway to Mental and Physical Health.\u201d\u00a0<i>Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science<\/i>\u00a0vol. 18,2 (2023): 309-320. doi:10.1177\/17456916221094856            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a born and bred Floridian, I\u2019ve always felt most at home around water. Starting at the age of eight or so, I welcomed the exhaustion of competitive swimming, red-rimmed chlorine eyes becoming my norm. Though I quit before high school, something happened during all those practices that connected me to the feeling of being &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}