Research shows that being near, in, on, or under the water can improve our mood and our health, and increase our creativity and connectedness. “People can experience the benefits of the water whether they’re near the ocean, a lake, a river, a swimming pool or even listening to the soothing sound of a fountain,” says Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist, avid scuba diver and author of Blue Mind (2014).

Listening to water may also clear the mind, suggests Michael Wenger, Dean, Buddhist Studies, of the San Francisco Zen Center. He says that “flowing or moving water is ‘white noise’. Listening to the sound—allowing it to wash over you—is a meditative act that puts you in the [present] moment.”

That break can give your mind space to come up with creative ideas and to have epiphanies – which explains the above photo. While visiting relatives who live in a lakefront house, I felt a calm wash over me and a burst of creativity – hence my sharing this research and wisdom with you.

If you can’t get to the ocean or a lake, fear not: consider taking a shower. According to Nichols, “[y]ou step into the shower and it’s like a mini-vacation. The shower is a proxy for the…ocean, and you remove a lot of the visual [and auditory] stimulation of your day.” The same can be said of a bath, as it gets you in and, mostly, under the water.

So, what are you waiting for! Get that shower or bath water running and enjoy a quick vacation feeling. You are welcome to share with me – at 215-260-4881 – any creative ideas that wash over you.

Wishing you time with water,
Gail