If you live near the water, count yourself blessed (at least if the weather is good).
The ocean, a dock by the lake: there’s a reason we find these vistas appealing.
According to a recent study done by researchers at the University of Exeter, blue watery spaces are something we love. They’re simply better for our health and wellbeing.
A collaboration between the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the University of Exeter in the UK found that residents in Hong Kong who lived with a view of the water from their home reported better health.
Those who regularly visited such environments in their free time reported higher wellbeing and had a lower risk of depression.
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“We can’t yet say that the contact with blue spaces caused this improvement,” said Dr. Jo Garrett, from the University of Exeter, “however we accounted for factors such as income and age, so we’re confident in our results.”
Researchers also found that people who live within a 10 to 15 minute walk were more likely to visit the waterfront, than those faraway. It’s unclear if the same can hold true for green spaces, but that seems logical.
The findings match with those from Japan that promote spending time in forests. Forest bathing is about relaxing and connecting with nature. Some guided walks in Japan even have doctors on hand in the woods to give you a general health assessment, in order to develop a walking plan to suit your needs. Sounds like a great afternoon.
