Water has been an integral part of our lives since time immemorial. Crossing oceans made people discover new lands and as travelers, tourists and seekers, water has always been one of the main components that attracts us to itself.
The latest research, now states that indeed this is true. Humans are most happy when in the vicinity of water. Research says that humans are automatically pulled toward Mother Nature’s blue.
Water makes up about 70 percent of our human body ,as also the majority space of the Earth. Even internally, it comprises 31 percent of our bones.
When we physically enter water, our muscles automatically relax. It gives us scope to think, create and ideate. It is explorative in nature and gives us a dimension that makes us move out of the routine. It helps us calm down and look beyond our over the top modern day life.
A recent study conducted in the UK, called Blue Gym, found that people who live near the coasts are generally healthier and happier. Other studies find that when shown photographs of green spaces, people’s stress levels drop, but the more blue spaces are shown, the more people prefer them.
Now, scientists are quantifying the positive cognitive and physical effects of water, too. Living by the coasts can lead to an improved sense of physical health and well-being.
Keeping in mind this thought, the European Union in 2016 initiated Blue Health 2020. The four-year cross-disciplinary research project examines the effects of aquatic environment on body and mind, with the goal of exploring the best ways to use water to improve the well-being of people in busy cities.
Water wards off depressive and anxious thoughts. Spending too much time indoors, high screen time, inflow of high amount of news and information can lead to lethargy and dissatisfaction. However, this mood can be improved if the person goes near water bodies.
That said, even just looking at images of water makes people calmer. Michael Depledge of the University of Exeter medical school in the UK and environmental psychologist Mat White conducted a well being study involving photos with greenery and water. They began by showing subjects pictures of green environments slowly adding ponds lakes, and coasts. Subjects preferred environments with water.