In this excerpt of an interview with BoatUS, Dr. Wallace Nichols explains the term blue space and its benefits.
You've likely heard of green space — areas in cities or residences that are full of plants that bring us a little closer to nature.
Author and marine biologist Dr. Wallace Nichols uses a new phrase — blue space — that those of us familiar with water will all understand.
Lakes, rivers, oceans, bays, even creeks and swimming pools are all blue space. Dr. Nichols, author of Blue Mind, a New York Times national best-seller, has been researching how blue spaces affect us. He calls it "the blue mind."
The blue mind, he says, separates us from the pressures and distractions of life, which he refers to as "red mind." Having a blue mind lessens the stresses of the day and gives us a break from our overstimulated lives. Nichols says that the relationship of a boat to our emotional health has been largely overlooked, until recently.
A 2017 study conducted by Wakefield Research found 4 in 5 Americans say being around water relaxes them, and 72 percent say they feel healthier after spending time on the water. Why do we feel good when we're on the water?
Nichols: When stress overload and attention fatigue are sustained over long periods of time, the "always-on" lifestyle can eventually result in memory problems, poor judgment, anxiety attacks, nervous habits, and even depression. Chronic stress damages the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. It lowers levels of dopamine and serotonin, causing us to feel exhausted and depressed.
According to the "2018 State of American Vacation Study," we're working longer hours, dealing with more stress, and are constantly connected to technology, with only 46 percent of us taking full vacation time. Time on the water lets us unplug; there is less noise, fewer voices, less stimulation. The minutia of life is decreased. We get back our brain bandwidth that we can use for other things. Water takes away distractions; that's what blue mind is. And boats are one of the best ways to experience water. A boat is in fact medicine in our lives.