The Blue Mind Movement
The Blue Mind Movement
Have you ever driven or walked to the beach, just to clear your head?
It’s not just by chance we feel this way. We are naturally drawn to the water. This deep biological connection can be traced back historically, with many communities being built close to water. With our bodies being 60% water and 70% of the earths surface being blue it’s not surprising that we feel this way. In fact science now suggests that the mere sight and sound of water can induce a flood of neurochemicals that promote wellness, increase blood flow and induce relaxation.
Being near the ocean can scientifically help you feel more connected to your true self. That’s because bodies of water are staying the same and changing simultaneously, which allows us to feel relaxing, soothing familiarity as well as stimulating novelty. If you have sat and watched the water for long enough the repetition of the rising and falling waves is meditative. According to the research collated in the book Blue Mind by Wallace J Nicholas, this regularity without boredom creates a dream like state, perfect for creativity, manifesting and processing. This is an essential part of the Blue Mind theory. How many times have you been at the beach watching the water and said to yourself, just one more wave then I'll leave, just one more, just one more.....
Living with underlying stress is increasingly common, drowning in work, commitments, technology, media or personal conflicts. We can end up with no boundaries, no routine, constantly exhausted, overstimulated, making bad decisions and neglecting our self care. We try and fill the internal void with external things. We make excuses, get ill and feel tired mentally and physically. It doesn't have to be this way....
Ask the swimmers, stand up paddlers, sailers, surfers what they get from being in the water.... what they feel after being outdoors....they are experiencing blue mind on a daily basis and they are waiting for you to dive in too. That feeling of mindfulness, focus, freedom and flow whilst in the water allows you to feel space in your mind, giving you clarity and a sense of calm. Proof that you are not your thoughts. Hence why it is constantly rising in popularity and very addictive! Natures natural prescription to better physical and mental health.
Integrating blue health into your life is a personal and individual experience, there are no set rules, it can lead to reduced anxiety, better stress management, a shift in perspective and an overall improved sense of being and belonging. Or by working with a blue health practitioner you may find more creative and connected ways to adopt a blue mind lifestyle.
Blue Mind is a state. It is about engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. Using rest and digest to calm your breathing, lower cortisol and slow your heart rate.
You don’t need to live on a beach or have a swimming pool in your garden to reap the benefits. The research from neuroscientists suggests that being in or near any water reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone), slows our breathing and heart rate, and allows us to reconnect our body and mind. So just going for a walk near a river, taking part in a beach clean, listening to recorded wave sounds or fishing on a lake can give us the same feelings of relaxation.
The aim with self care is always to be creating new behavioural habits and rituals that allow you the time, space and sense of place to feel grounded, present and calm amongst the chaos.
These little acts of self care help to fill up your cup, improve your self worth and kick start a healthier, happier outlook. Being more blue mind doesn't necessarily mean swimming every day, it means understanding and acknowledging your feelings and finding outlets that allow them to flow through you.
Surfers Against Sewage Love Letter to the Sea.
Top Tips:
- Remember to leave only footprints, be mindful to find ways to conserve blue spaces and give back.
Explore different blue spaces and feel the difference in energy and experience
If you are doing any type of water activity take the proper safety precautions
Journal about your blue mind experiences to reflect and connect
Check in with yourself daily to make sure you are giving yourself moments of space and clarity