An extensive 2013 study on happiness in natural environments – to White’s mind, “one of the best ever” – prompted 20,000 smartphone users to record their sense of wellbeing and their immediate environment at random intervals. Marine and coastal margins were found by some distance to be the happiest locations, with responses approximately six points higher than in a continuous urban environment. The researchers equated it to “the difference between attending an exhibition and doing housework”.
Although living within 1km (0.6 miles) of the coast – and to a lesser extent, within 5km (3.1 miles) – has been associated with better general and mental health, it seems to be the propensity to visit that is key. “We find people who visit the coast, for example, at least twice weekly tend to experience better general and mental health,” says Dr Lewis Elliott, also of the University of Exeter and BlueHealth. “Some of our research suggests around two hours a week is probably beneficial, across many sectors of society.” Even sea views have been associated with better mental health.
White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health, wellbeing and happiness. First, there are the beneficial environmental factors typical of aquatic environments, such as less polluted air and more sunlight. Second, people who live by water tend to be more physically active – not just with water sports, but walking and cycling.
Third – and this is where blue space seems to have an edge over other natural environments – water has a psychologically restorative effect. White says spending time in and around aquatic environments has consistently been shown to lead to significantly higher benefits, in inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood and stress, than green space does.
If you wan' go wash, na water you go use If you want cook soup, na water you go use If your head dey hot, na water go cool am If your child dey grow, na water he go use If water kill your child, na water you go use NOTHING WITHOUT WATAH!
I was just thinking now about how nice it is sitting beside the lake drinking wine and how I wished I had done that more back when I was a neet.
There is a theory that modern humans are an "aquatic ape", and evolved to live in water and take advantage of the various benefits of switching between a water and land environment. I think there may be something to it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ape_hypothesis
I grew up in a house that had a huge aquarium and sometimes when I’d wake up late at night I’d see my dad sitting at the dining room table just staring at it...
The lake is a place where I find my peace of mind when life is hectic or I just want to be alone with my thoughts .. it’s the one place that I can go where I genuinely feel centered ...
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Originally posted by CandyRein
I grew up in a house that had a huge aquarium and sometimes when I’d wake up late at night I’d see my dad sitting at the dining room table just staring at it…
The lake is a place where I find my peace of mind when life is hectic or I just want to be alone with my thoughts .. it’s the one place that I can go where I genuinely feel centered …
wow cultural appropriation much? Your aquarium was full of indigenous tears
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Originally posted by CandyRein
I grew up in a house that had a huge aquarium and sometimes when I’d wake up late at night I’d see my dad sitting at the dining room table just staring at it…
The lake is a place where I find my peace of mind when life is hectic or I just want to be alone with my thoughts .. it’s the one place that I can go where I genuinely feel centered …
I used to have a pretty cool aquarium with some snails and crustaceans and guppies. After looking at it for long enough it became hard for me to imagine what it must be like *NOT* to be a fish.
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Narc
Space Nigga
[connect my yokel-like scolytidae]
I live in a coastal city yet can't remember the last time I saw the sea. My apartment is less than half a mile from the water an all, I'm sitting in it right now.
Originally posted by the man who put it in my hood
If you wan' go wash, na water you go use If you want cook soup, na water you go use If your head dey hot, na water go cool am If your child dey grow, na water he go use If water kill your child, na water you go use NOTHING WITHOUT WATAH!
read the thing carefully especially around weasel words such as
“Some of our research suggests around two hours a week is probably beneficial, across many sectors of society.”.
suggests, not proven.
also
White says spending time in and around aquatic environments has consistently been shown to lead to significantly higher benefits, in inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood and stress, than green space does.
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