How Time Spent Near Water Enhances Our Health

What are “Blue Spaces”?

Blue spaces are environments that contain water, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals, and urban water features like fountains and reservoirs. Unlike green spaces (such as forests, parks, and gardens), water is the defining element of blue spaces, though they often exist alongside greenery. Coastal regions offer access to seas and beaches, while inland areas feature rivers, lakes, and artificial waterways.

Communities have long settled near blue spaces to benefit from resources such as access to fisheries, drinking water, and irrigation. Many of us feel a sense of calm and connection near water. However, the benefits of blue spaces to human health have received less attention than the benefits of green spaces. Recent studies aim to fill this gap by exploring how time spent near blue spaces might benefit physical and mental health.

Blue spaces influence well-being, mental health, physical health, and active living, and also impact obesity and active play in children. Despite much study, there is still much to be understood about the connection between blue spaces and human health.

Blue Spaces and Mental Well-being

Spending time near water appears to have significant benefits for mental health, especially when individuals actively engage with blue spaces. Research suggests that blue spaces can improve our mental well-being in two ways: by reducing anxiety and mental fatigue, and by fostering a deeper sense of connection to nature.

In Ireland, individuals living near the coastline, experiencing frequent coastal views, reported fewer symptoms of depression compared to those living further inland. Similarly, older adults in Scotland with better access to freshwater spaces were found to rely less on antidepressants, indicating the potential mental health benefits of these environments. In Belgium, residents living near the coast also reported better general health. Blue spaces also offer places for self-discovery, personal reflection, and emotional recovery.

The benefits of blue spaces extend beyond simple proximity: how individuals engage with these environments also matters. Regular visits to water and waterborne recreational activities, whether swimming, walking, or boating, enhance the effects of blue spaces on mental health.

Blue Spaces and Healthy Living

Physical activity is another pathway through which blue spaces can promote better health. Coastal environments such as beaches, waterfront trails, and open spaces near water provide natural settings for engaging in activities like walking, swimming, or paddleboarding, encouraging movement without requiring formal exercise routines.

In England, coastal residents were more likely to meet recommended exercise guidelines than those living further inland, suggesting that easy access to water fosters physical activity. Research also found that children near water engage more frequently in active play and have lower rates of childhood obesity. This effect was more pronounced for girls, indicating that coastal areas may provide spaces where they feel more motivated to be physically active. These habits can benefit health across the lifespan, as behaviors formed in childhood often shape long-term well-being.

Social and Cultural Well-being

Blue spaces not only promote physical and mental health but also help foster social connections. They provide spaces for community engagement through activities like swimming, walking, and group gatherings, which bring people together and create shared experiences.

In many cultures, blue spaces carry deep symbolic and emotional significance. For Indigenous Māori communities in New Zealand, water is an essential part of their connection to nature and tradition, underscoring the importance of these landscapes in maintaining cultural heritage. Around the world, blue spaces are also valued for their role in emotional healing and cultural continuity.

Blue Spaces and Overall Health

Do the benefits of blue spaces translate into better health outcomes? Some studies suggest that living near water may indeed be associated with improved physical health. For example, coastal residents in Greece experienced lower deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, with the effects especially pronounced in island communities. A study in Spain also found a lower incidence of childhood leukemia among children living near water, though the underlying reasons warrant further investigation. Additionally, blue spaces can reduce environmental stressors, such as urban heat.

While blue spaces offer promising health benefits, these outcomes depend on access, quality, and broader socioeconomic factors, such as income, pollution levels, and infrastructure. In the Gulf of Mexico, pollution and economic hardship have dampened the potential advantages of coastal living. In Malta, residents described the sea as a source of both peace and sadness, underscoring how environmental degradation can shape emotional well-being. Additionally, a study found that flood-prone areas near rivers were associated with higher rates of anxiety and Type 2 diabetes, showing how physical risks can complicate the benefits of living near water. In some U.S. regions, living near lakes was surprisingly linked to higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, likely reflecting the impact of socioeconomic disadvantages.

Future Research

As research on blue spaces continues to develop, we can expect to uncover more about the specific pathways through which these environments affect health and well-being. A key area for further exploration is the impact of freshwater environments such as rivers, canals, and inland lakes, which have been studied less than coastal settings. Research in Belgium found that natural beach settings provided more psychological restoration than urban harbors, underscoring the need to explore the benefits of diverse types of blue space. Similarly, in an unexpected finding, while the Great Lakes were associated with improved mental health outcomes, smaller lakes were associated with higher anxiety-related hospitalizations. Further research into these dynamics will help advance our understanding of how to optimize these environments for well-being.

Benefiting from Blue Spaces

Blue spaces, whether oceans, rivers, lakes, or urban water features, offer more than beautiful scenery. Their broad impacts range from the restorative effects of beaches to the boost in physical activity near water. They provide meaningful ways to enhance mental well-being, encourage physical activity, foster social connections, and support emotional recovery. Even in areas where measurable health outcomes, like reduced disease rates, are not always observed, people often report feeling better emotionally after spending time near water.

It is worth noting that most of the world’s blue zones, regions known for exceptional longevity, are located near water. These include Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica), and Ikaria (Greece). While the longevity in these areas is attributed to a complex interplay of factors beyond just their proximity to water, it raises interesting questions about the potential long-term benefits of blue spaces for healthy living.

The concept of redesigning communities to promote interaction with blue spaces is a promising direction for future initiatives. By intentionally incorporating accessible and attractive water features into urban and suburban landscapes, we could encourage the kinds of behaviors and interactions that research has shown to be beneficial. For instance, creating more waterfront paths, urban beaches, or revitalizing neglected waterfronts could provide more opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and stress reduction. Similarly, ensuring that children have safe, easy access to blue spaces could help foster lifelong habits of engaging with these health-promoting environments.

As individuals, we can also take steps to incorporate blue spaces into our lives, complementing broader community initiatives. Here are some ways you can start benefiting from blue spaces today:

• Try incorporating water environments into your routine, even through small actions. This could be by walking along a lake, river, or beach or engaging in activities like swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding. 
• Explore urban water features around you, like fountains or canals, which can offer moments of calm, stress relief and connection to the history of your community. 
• Share some of these experiences with friends or family, providing a further boost to your emotional wellbeing by fostering social connection.
• Consider joining community efforts such as clean-ups or urban planning initiatives as well. These initiatives can help protect and expand access to blue spaces, ensuring their benefits remain available for all.