What is it about the beach that relaxes us to the point where we call it our “Happy Place”?
Is it because we are mostly there when the weather is warm? Is it the natural “white noise” effect as we listen to the waves crashing on the sandy shores? Is it the sun’s ability to warm your body so quickly after a dip in the cooler ocean? Is it the break from the real world and social media accounts (the sun’s glare makes it harder to see your devices) while we are on the beach? Is it the relaxing sea breezes?
I think it’s the combination of all of the above and more. When we first arrive to the beach, three of our senses are quickly stimulated as we see the beautiful sea, hear the waves crashing, and as we feel the soft sand on our bare feet which in itself can be a relaxing tactile stimulus. When you sit in your beach chair, gazing at the rolling of the waves with the constant relaxing sounds, the brain can release fee good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. For me, I usually fall asleep even though I am not tired and awake feeling completely refreshed. Some say the negative ions released with the crashing of the waves also improves your mood. Negative Ions are oxygen atoms have an extra electron and occur in places like waterfalls and the ocean. If I have a lot on my mind and need to think, a trip to the beach usually cures the stress and helps me think more clearly. The sun (in moderation) causes the body to produce vitamin D which helps with bone strength and calcium absorption. How many of you tend to get depressed on extended cloudy days or in the winter when you tend to stay inside more than outside. We always tend to feel better when outside on a bright sunny day. There could be a scientific reason behind that. It’s a combination of scattered blue light and bright sunlight, which induce the cells in your retina to release melanopsin, which can result in a better mood.
I’m not a scientist but I do know that when I am at the beach, I am happy and for that reason, The Beach Is My Happy Place!
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