TikTok is full of advice on everything from fitness cooking to relationships with parents. Mental health is also often discussed there. One of the most popular topics lately is how walking and sitting by the water can help you beat stress . They even came up with a name for it — “Blue Mind Theory.” We’ll tell you if science knows anything about it.
What is the essence of the “Blue Mind Theory”
Many people feel calmer when they swim or spend time near water, according to proponents of the Blue Mind Theory. According to them , even 20 minutes a day near water can help you overcome stress, improve your sleep, and become more energetic and creative.
The arguments are as follows : water (in the ocean, river, and even bath) supposedly increases the amount of neurotransmitters – dopamine and serotonin. And they, in turn, suppress the stress hormone, calm and lift the mood. You just washed or bathed, and the sensations are as if you meditated.
The “Blue Mind Theory” is surrounded by myths. In the comments to TikToks, for example, they often write that the effect depends on the zodiac sign (supposedly if you are a Pisces or Cancer, water is your element). But there is also a scientific basis.
Who came up with the idea that sitting by the water is good for your psyche?
The Blue Mind Theory itself was coined in 2015 by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols. He wrote a book called Blue Mind. The subtitle was: “The surprising science that shows how being near, in, and under water can make you happier, healthier, and better at what you do.”
Nichols called the “Blue Mind” the meditative peace that a person experiences near water. It is the opposite of the “Red Mind” – a state of an anxious and overloaded psyche. This is how most people feel every day due to endless worries, fuss and gadgets. The mechanism, according to Nichols, is as follows :
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Water stimulates involuntary attention, which a person does not consciously control (it arises from triggers). Thanks to involuntary attention, we become more creative and better at solving problems.
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Being near water increases levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine (also known as the “feel-good hormone”), serotonin (the “joy hormone”), and oxytocin (the “cuddle hormone”). Levels of the stress hormone cortisol decrease. This is exactly what is being talked about in TikToks.
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The color, sound and feel of water can slow your heart rate and make you feel relaxed.
To enter the Blue Mind state, Nichols advised swimming, taking a bath, buying an aquarium, or visiting an oceanarium. Drinking a glass of water , he said, is also always helpful: even mild dehydration can increase fatigue and anxiety. This means that mental health will suffer.
What do scientists say about the influence of water on the psyche?
This idea has recently gone viral on the Internet , but it was written about 15 years ago. One of the first studies on the effect of water on the psyche was published in 2008. At that time, scientists discovered that the Irish who live closer to the sea (a couple of kilometers) are happier than their compatriots who live further away (for example, five kilometers).
Later, researchers made similar observations about residents of Canada, China, England, and the Netherlands. In 2013, a longitudinal study showed that the same people felt better while living near the coast. But when they moved inland, they felt less well.
In 2017, British scientists studied 35 different studies from around the world and came to a similar conclusion: being near water has a positive effect on the psyche. Later, there were studies showing that a good view of the sea from the window can reduce the risk of depression in older people.
But what’s the secret? In general, any natural landscapes are good for the psyche. This is the conclusion reached by Taiwanese scientists in 2017. They conducted an experiment: they showed people photographs of urban landscapes and natural landscapes (including bodies of water), and then studied their brains using a special MRI. Pictures of nature and bodies of water reduced the activity of the prefrontal cortex of the participants’ brains. This area is responsible , among other things, for fear and anxiety. It turns out that a postcard with a lake can really act as a mild sedative. What can we say about contemplating the surf.
Another argument in favor of water is that reservoirs are often surrounded by greenery. This means they combine the advantages of a “green” and “blue” landscape. Also, ponds, lakes and rivers usually have some kind of living creatures – ducks, fish, herons, beavers. Watching them is also good for mental health.
According to psychotherapist Rachel Goldberg, waterscapes can lift the spirits of people who grew up by the sea or a river. Positive associations are triggered. A person remembers happy moments from childhood, and endorphins are produced. The body switches from the “fight or flight” mode to the “rest and digest” mode. At this point, the parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart rate and relieves tension. This is how the “Blue Mind” state occurs.
Finally, scientists associate another positive effect of water with sound (it’s not for nothing that ASMR videos often use the sound of water). In some studies, the authors found that the sounds of water reduce anxiety (possibly by curbing the release of the stress hormone cortisol) and help the nervous system stay healthy. This is also relevant for recovery from stress.
In short, spending a fine day by the water or even taking a bath is always a good idea to lift your mood. We like the TikTok trend.