You Should Get Wet

Blue Mind Theory

Blue Mind Theory:

The relaxed and often meditative state that people fall into when they are near, in, under, or looking at water. It was popularised by Wallace J. Nichols, author of the national bestselling book, Blue Mind.

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Water has a positive effect on both the mind and the body:

• ⬆️ Dopamine — The ‘feel good’ hormone

• ⬆️ Serotonin — The ‘happy’ hormone

• ⬆️ Oxytocin — The ‘love’ hormone

• ⬇️ Cortisol — The ‘stress’ hormone

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The colour, sound, and feel of water can also have other physical effects.

The funny thing is, you don’t even need to be in or even near the water to feel these effects.

One study showed that simply looking at an aquarium for 10 minutes can significantly lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

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These effects add up to a happier, healthier, more relaxed state that often feels a bit like meditation — which is one of the reasons sunbathing at the beach feels so good.

But it’s not only relaxing — water also aids creativity.

The vast open sea inspires big-picture thinking while the stillness of a pool creates the calm that allows your mind to think clearly.

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Here’s a nice visual I found online that helps illustrate these ideas:

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Thanks for reading this slightly shorter than usual article.

I hope you enjoyed it all the same.

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