Few things are better – or more relaxing – than spending your summer at the beach. If your idea of paradise involves sinking your toes into the sand while the sun warms you after a dip in the ocean, you’re probably not surprised to learn that spending time by the water does wonders for the mind and mood. And, experts say, there are smart ways to get even more mental health benefits from your stay at the beach.
“A beach vacation is a wonderful time to take some time for yourself and give yourself the opportunity and space to focus on your mental health and well-being,” says counselor and certified life coach Rosa Talavera- Kaufman for Yahoo Life.
Here’s what experts recommend you do to maximize those good vibes on your next trip to the beach.
Experience something completely new to you
Relaxing with a read on the beach is all well and good, but aim to try a brand new experience to stimulate your body and brain for the long term. This can be as simple as jumping on a paddleboard for the first time, but you can also take off by adding a bucket list experience to your itinerary, such as swimming in a bioluminescent bay among microorganisms that glow a shocking neon blue.
“It’s scary, in a primal way, to sit in dark, murky water,” Seattle attorney Julia Guarino tells Yahoo Life to try the latter at the Excellence Oyster Bay oceanfront resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “But seeing the magical blue glow spread from your hands as you swim—I’ve never experienced anything like it,” she says, noting a sense of wonder many beachgoers experience when swimming in bioluminescence.
Studies have shown that this very feeling of fear can be good for your mental and physical health. Psychologist Reena Patel agrees: “Spending time in a new environment [and] Engaging in enjoyable activities can improve mood, stimulate creativity, and inspire new ideas,” she told Yahoo Life. “When you’re on vacation at the beach, it’s the perfect time to try something new.”
Dig your toes in the sand
According to Patel, the calming effects of a simple walk on the beach are known to help reduce anxiety. “While you’re walking in the sand with bare feet, it’s a great time to take advantage of your surroundings and practice grounding,” she explains.
“Maximizing a beach vacation can take the form of what I like to call the mini-toking technique,” behavioral health clinician Mark Debus tells Yahoo Life. “This can include walking along the beach and focusing on the feel of the sand and waves on your feet and ankles.” He notes that people often unconsciously bring anxiety and tension from their home or work environments with them on vacation, and that practicing grounding strategies on a beach walk can help focus — and even lead to a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.
“In general, focus on the physical environment around you,” suggests Debus. “Stay grounded and do your best to detach and take your mind off things unrelated to relaxation.”
Life coach Talavera-Kaufman suggests taking that land walk under a full moon for maximum benefits. “For those looking to connect with their intuitive side, visiting the beach at night under a full moon and stars can be a powerful experience,” she says. Moon cycles affect behavior, she explains, so being on the beach under a full moon “can help spark intuition along with meditation and grounding practices.”
It might sound woo-woo, but many beachgoers—and scientific studies, too—will attest that there’s something about being by the water that brings peace, calm, and clarity. “It’s really great for your mental health, and it’s a great opportunity for self-reflection, intentional thought, and meditation,” adds Talavera-Kaufman.
Avoid the temptation of ‘work’
In the age of digital nomadism, working while “on vacation” — otherwise known as “work” — is having a moment. But holding those calls and work meetings on Zoom will actually undermine the potential physical and mental benefits of that trip to the beach, Debus explains. Instead, he advises travelers to “make a date with the beach!”
Aye Moah is a workplace mental health expert and CEO of productivity brand Boomerang—and she’s no stranger to the phenomenon of feeling unable to turn off your brain just because you’re at the beach. “It can be difficult to fully relax and enjoy your vacation with the stress of work in the back of your mind,” says Moah. She advises taking a few simple preparation steps before your vacation to take the anxiety out of work in advance and ensure you can truly unplug once you arrive at your destination.
“Set clear boundaries with your manager and team before you leave about your availability,” she tells Yahoo Life. “By telling your team what they can expect — and you need to make it clear that you’ll be completely offline — you avoid any chance of confusion.” Then, take a look at the upcoming deadlines and send everything you can in advance. Finally, leave a memo indicating who your colleagues should contact for different types of questions or issues. “That way,” explains Moah, “if someone in your company or outside has any questions while you’re out, they can be addressed and you’re not back to 100 tasks piled up. And you’ll be able to focus on relaxing knowing that nothing will slip through the cracks while you’re out.”
Once you arrive at that long-awaited break, it’s time for the hardest and most powerful step of all: “Unplug work email from your phones,” urges Moah. And turn off notifications for Slack or Teams — or better yet, uninstall the apps entirely until you return. “Ultimately,” she says, “you have to focus on unplugging completely—you’ll come back less stressed and more creative.”
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