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Why The Ocean Calls To Us, According To Science
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The blue mind
A "blue mind" is a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment, that's triggered when w...
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Water gives our brains a rest
- The sound around us, from an auditory perspective, is simplified. It's not quiet, but the sound of water is far more simple than the sound of voices or the sound of music or the ...
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A meditative state
The water could be inducing a mildly meditative state of calm focus and gentle awareness.
When we're by the water, our brains are held in a state of mild attentiveness. In this st...
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Water inspires us to be more connected
Besides the contemplative state that observing and interacting with water triggers, it's common to experience feelings of awe. And awe invokes feelings of a connection to something beyond oneself, ...
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Showering and relaxation
Hopping in the shower is a great way to trigger ideas when our brains are in a creative rut.
You step in the shower, and you remove a lot of the visual stimulation of your ...
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Breathing and anxiety
We have become pretty bad at the most basic act of living: breathing. We breathe through our mouths and into our chests, and we do it way too fast.
Besides the health prob...
How breathing can calm us
Instead of trying to think yourself out of feeling anxious, you can do something more specific: breathe slow or fast, in a particular rhythm, or through a nostril; this can work as an instant relief.
A regular breathing practice will help you feel calmer in daily situations, but studies suggest that focusing on your breathing in moments of acute stress could also be useful.
Breathing: stress vs relaxation
The way we breathe can set off a cascade of physical changes in the body that promote either stress or relaxation.
Breathing impacts the sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) branches of our nervous system, and certain techniques can promote more parasympathetic calm and relaxation. Some may also cause us to release hormones like prolactin and possibly oxytocin, the feel-good hormone of love and bonding.