Could living near water be the secret to happiness?

We have had a wet few days, so you may be sick of the sight of water in Surrey. The
restorative benefits of nature has been wildly spoken about, even your local GP in the High Peak has
the option to prescribe spending time in the outdoors to support patient well-being. This is nothing
new: the Victorians used to take the sea air as a treatment for melancholy, and for centuries, the
French spent time in natural springs to treat ailments. Spending time near green spaces is commonly
known to be beneficial for your mental health; now, new studies highlight that living near water
could be the secret to happiness.

Blue spaces

From the sound of rain whilst you’re snug and warm, watching a stream dancing down the
countryside, waves gently lapping at the shore, to a water fountain creating a relaxing environment
in your garden. You don’t have to be physically close to the ocean to gain the benefits of blue spaces
– urban water, such as rivers, canals, fountains and pools, counts as well, and even just listening to
or watching videos of water can have the same effect.

Scientific Reports published a study in 2021 which had surveyed people in 18 countries. They
explored the association of natural settings with mental health. They found that people who lived in
‘greener/coastal neighbourhoods reported higher positive well-being,’ and particularly those that
frequently visited blue spaces expressed lower mental distress and, overall, a better well-being.
Nature is in no way a substitute for medication or therapy, but it can surprisingly help us to feel
calmer.

In his book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science that Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water
Can Make Us Healthier, Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do, marine biologist
Wallace J. Nichols states that when we are near water: “Your creativity is going up, your stress
hormones are going down, your ideas are expanding, your sense of yourself, you can hear yourself
breathe, you’re connecting with the water.” He calls this ‘Blue Mind’.

The benefits

There are several ways that being in or close to water can benefit your mental well-being. Being
around water creates a sense of awe, expanding our minds a little and giving us a sense of
something greater then ourselves. If you have ever sat and watched the waves, you may have
experienced a soothing of your senses. It isn’t just the sight of the waves, but the sound of them
crashing, the salt and even the sand under your feet. You don’t need to be at the ocean to have a
sensory experience near water, and as such, a calmer state of mind.

Because of its motion, water has the ability to grab our attention; it is dynamic in many ways,
especially in how it encourages us to rest, should we be floating within it. It is this strength that helps
to facilitate mindfulness and reflection, watching water can help to clear our minds and sooth our
souls.

Medical reasons

You would be shocked to receive a prescription from your GP to go and spend some time within
nature, but following a successful pilot project in Scotland, that is about to happen. During the
original trial, it was found that 74% of those prescribed benefitted from a nature prescription. It also
helped to change habits, with 87% saying that they would try to spend time in nature to help to
support their health and well-being.

The RSPB, in collaboration with the Peak District National Park Authority, will be seeing the first
green prescriptions being issued in the High Peak, Derbyshire with the hope they can be rolled out
across the country.

Home effect

When buyers are viewing a property they want to feel at home in, they are no doubt filled with
nervous excitement, and it is important to try to create a calm and relaxing environment which will
allow them to relax. As the weather starts to get warmer, and hopefully drier, and you start to
maintain your garden or outside space, why not have a think whether a water feature would
enhance the space. This could not only be transformative to your health but could also, potentially,
make buyers feel at home.

For advice on buying or selling a property in Surrey contact our team at James Neave Estate Agents
on 01932 221331.