Life's a beach, or at least it should be

For about the last five days or so, I've been on a much needed vacation at the beach.  It's been awesome.  I have always (at least as far as I can remember) enjoyed the beach, and we've always tried to go to the beach at least once a year.  As my wife just said as we were leaving to come in for the day, "This is the life." 

There is something that is unbelievably relaxing, at least for our family, about going to the beach.  We don't do anything.  We just sit (usually beneath the umbrella) and enjoy it all - the ocean breeze, the smell of the salt air, the feel of the sand between your toes, the warmth of the sun on your shoulders, and the soothing sounds of the ocean waves.  Summer at the beach often reminds me of one of my favorite albums by the Beach Boys - "Endless Summer".  It's all there - "The Warmth of the Sun", "Good Vibrations", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "All Summer Long". 

But you didn't want to hear about my beach vacation, did you?  Well, it turns out (as it usually does), there's scientific evidence to suggest that the "the beach benefits your brain".  There are a number of studies that suggest that the beach may be one of the best places to alleviate stress and re-charge your batteries.  The beach, in other words, is good for your brain!  Listening to the waves crash on to the shore is like being in a sensory deprivation tank.  The colors at the beach (depending on where you are, the whiteness of the sand and the blueness of the ocean) conveys a sense of calmness - the color blue, is in fact, used in marketing materials for exactly that reason.  The salty ocean air contains negative ions that have been shown to combat a depressed mood.  Finally, the feel of the sand on your feet is like getting acupuncture and has been proven to be very relaxing.

It's no wonder that a recent study published in the journal, Health & Place suggested that people who live near the coast are generally much happier and have better general physical, mental, and spiritual health compared to those who live near the middle of the country.  A follow-up study in the same journal confirmed these results, suggesting that health improved the closer one lives to the coast.

We are already planning our next beach vacation!  Maybe you should too.