Hello everyone and welcome to my thirty-fifth blog, at the seaside!

Sitting at lunch last Sunday, Rich and I decided that we would go down to our home on the south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal. We felt that we needed to get out of the city and we also thought that perhaps the sea air would do us both good after having been sick.

It was such a last-minute decision and by Wednesday midday we had arrived at Our Happy Place.

Within hours we felt more relaxed, chilled, and less anxious. Rich continued working and I also had quite a lot to do with my nutrition clients, my blog, and maintaining communication with my physio patients. Luckily, my dear friend Fee agreed to cover my practice for the duration. The older boys stayed in Gauteng and my youngest came down with us to stay with friends at a home further down the coast.

This got me thinking. Why is it that time at the beach makes us happier? We were doing similar things that we do at our home in the city, but it was different and we felt different. So, I did my usual and started reading and researching.

Humans are inspired by water, hearing it, smelling it in the air, playing in it, walking next to it, painting it, surfing, fishing or swimming in it, writing about it, photographing it, and creating lasting memories on its edge. The sea and its surroundings are often so beautiful. Water is something that humanity has cherished since the beginning of history, and it means something different to everyone.

Funnily enough, there has not been a great deal of research to help us understand why being near the water brings us such deep contentment. I did find some though.

The colour blue has been shown to produce feelings of security and relaxation. At the moment the sea is the most stunning colour, but sometimes after our seasonal rains, our sea is quite brown and dirty from all the soil wash from inland. Yet, we still love watching it and listening to it. So, the colour is definitely not the only reason we love the sea so much.

Researchers have shown that watching fish swimming, in the sea, helps to decrease blood pressure and stress levels, but you do not need to be beside the sea to experience this. A large fish tank or visit to an aquarium will suffice. We saw a pod of dolphins yesterday morning. They were absolutely beautiful, and it was so relaxing watching them. The whales were also frolicking about on Wednesday, and that was such a treat, too.

However, the bigger question, that of the connection between the ocean and the human psyche, is now being explored further, thanks to Wallace J. Nichols, a turtle biologist. He works as a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences and is a devoted conservationist. He believes that we share a very human experience with the sea that nobody really wants to delve deeper into. Wallace has coined the term “neuroconservation” to describe his vision.  He believes that by studying what draws us to the ocean, we can use that information to ultimately save it. I absolutely love his work.    He has hosted summits and is encouraging scientists worldwide to look for serious explanations for the happiness we experience down at the seaside. Below are some of these amazing scientists’ thoughts.

It turns out that the most pleasurable sounds we hear have predictable wave patterns, middling to low pitches, soft volumes, and harmonious frequencies at regular intervals, which are all characteristics of the ocean’s rhythm. The sound of the sea as the waves crash against the shore is very soothing for me. This decreases our cortisol levels. On the other hand, traffic, and airplane noises (actually a lot of sharp, unexpected, and loud noises) prompt our body to release cortisol which can lead to a number of health problems, as I have mentioned in previous blogs. This is also the reason some sleep apps use the sound of the ocean to help you get to sleep.

There is also an emotional component. The ocean’s sound may trigger deep memories or feelings of relaxation and safety. Some people actually say that it is recalling the womb and your mother’s heartbeat. Not sure about this one though!

The flat plane of the ocean’s surface may also help us feel contented. We have evolved as a species to find safety in environments of low complexity, like being at the beach. In dense woodlands, this is not the same, as predators can lurk or hide away in dense bush or behind huge trees, and in cities, we worry about criminals hiding around the corner or behind a building. That is not to say that we do not need to be careful in this day and age at the beach but usually we can see quite far, and the surroundings are usually open and this should help us feel safer.

As humans we also want to control and make our environment normal, so when we look out to the sea, or we are walking on the beach, we are generally in a stable, predictable environment. There will be things that stand out, a boat in the distance, a gull on the shore, people walking their dog, but anything against that background is easily recorded and interpreted. These visuals will more than likely result in a special, sparkly feeling, rather than fear.

The ocean is also vast and infinite and that helps us to reflect and will lead to a feeling of calmness, which will definitely enhance our mood. Oceans cover more than seventy percent of the earth’s surface and half of those waters are at least three kilometres deep. The ocean produces fifty percent of the air that we breathe. Fun facts!

What we do when we get to the beach may also bring us pleasure. Some say that the ocean generates negative ions, charged air particles which have been linked to mental energy and emotional well-being. I can sit and watch the sea for hours , and that is not usual for me just to sit, as most of you know.

Being in nature, which is what being at the beach is also about, has also been shown to be vital as is being active and moving about when one is in nature. Moving and exercise at the beach will also then have a calming effect and lower your stress levels. Our neurochemical stress response is telling us to move. We take long walks and runs on our beach and this makes exercising such a complete and utter pleasure, as it should be.  This sometimes helps to prevent piling on those kilos as one eats a little more whilst on holiday.

Some research has shown that your brain actually has a small module that seems to calculate goods, like cars, and experiences like a sea holiday, in a way that is proportional to their underlying value. How cool is this. People generally underestimate the satisfaction that they will get from activities like beach trips compared to buying new stuff. Yet the rewards from travel continue long after we have returned home, in the form of memories. It is not just the holiday you had last week. The memories remain. Every time you see a picture of that particular beach or you go through your pics, you are going to have that experience again. You see that is the reason I take so many photos, and (used to) post them on Facebook and Instagram every day when I am on holiday!

Its really not the stuff you have but it is the memories you make, to cherish and treasure forever.

I really hope that you have learnt a little more about the sea and why we love it so much.

So, I really wish I could teleport you all here to come and enjoy the magnificent beach with us. Sadly, I am not able to do this.

Instead, why don’t you just take a look at the pics of your last beach holiday, sit down quietly with your memories and go back in time, and imagine yourself on that holiday and remember. I really believe that this will help make your day happier, more contented, and brighter. I really hope it does. Til next week, Adieu!

Tip number thirty-four.

He who hesitates is lost. Make the most of your time. Take that holiday, make that trip, hike that trail, and enjoy every second.