Water makes (proven) happier

Give me a vacation spot somewhere in the middle of nowhere and I'll look for the nearest beach. Send me to a city and I'll find the oversized puddle in a park. Let me choose where I can live for the rest of my life and I'll say by the sea. Water has an attraction. I love the beach, I find sailing delightful and even if I have a view of a ditch, I feel better. Not strange, because people seem to feel just a bit happier by a puddle, river, lake, or sea.

I grew up with water literally around me, on an island. Sounds idyllic, until you stand in line every day for the open bridge at the whole and half hour. But I was always fascinated by being on and around the water, and that remained. As a little kid, I could even just stare at the sea and the funny thing was that I always felt a little better then. It was almost meditative, although I had no idea about that at the time. It makes sense now, because the closer you live to water, the happier you are.

The funny thing is that everyone talks about how zen it is to be in the woods these days, but we seem to forget the effects of water a bit. No less than 50 (!) studies that researchers worldwide compared show that so-called blue spaces have a positive effect on health. People who live by the water naturally move more, have less stress, and are generally quite content and happy with life. I understand that, because who wouldn't be with the sea in the backyard?

By the way, water is not only good for your health, it also improves your mood by meters and miles. You can make as many forest walks as you want, but apparently, a green environment doesn't have that effect. Residents by the water feel better because you often have more sunlight, you move more, and it has a wonderful effect on your psychological recovery, and that's all scientifically proven. I'm just mentioning it. Maybe I should adjust my Funda search option to ‘by the water’ or book a night away with a view of a blue space, as they like to call it so cozily.

So do you have an off day? Off to Zandvoort by the sea.

Source: De Standaard