Beach Visits and Stress Reduction


By Patricia Rand

With the MiraCosta College campuses located so close to the Pacific, you may have plans to head to the beach over the weekend. The ocean is a place many of us love to be. Whether it’s to surf, check out the view, exercise or walk at sunset, or spend a picnic day with friends, the beach can be the perfect place.

In addition to being a lot of fun, you may notice your mood is better and you feel calmer around the ocean. Spending time near the water has positive effects on mental health.

Nearness to the coast, and other ‘blue spaces’ like rivers, lakes, canals and waterfalls, is associated with both physical and mental wellbeing, increased levels of vitamin D, improved social life, less anxiety, and increased creativity. Studies have shown that the negative ions in the air around water have benefits for the body and increase serotonin production. Negative ions help us fight fatigue, depression, energy depletion, burnout, and stress. Negative ions are made in nature and help us form good biochemical reactions. This is why you may feel restored a bit after a rainstorm. A visit to the beach will help with this, too.

Other boosts to our mental health at the beach come from environmental factors like less polluted air and more sunlight. Also, people who live by water tend to be more physically active and do more water sports, as well as hiking, walking, skating and biking.

Going to the beach is a great way to clear your head, get clean fresh air, and enjoy the beauty of nature. It’s also an excellent form of mental health therapy for times of anxiety, depression, and stress. With the ocean right around the corner from our campus, finals week is a great time to visit the ocean to boost your health and wellness.

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