How Being Near Water, Even Virtually, Can Help Your Mental Health

There are scientifically-backed reasons that a trip to the ocean or the sound of falling rain are so soothing — and experts say that being more intentional about your exposure to water can be a great addition to your mental health toolbox. “If you are in a body of water, your internal state just becomes calm,” Dr. Natalie Azar recently told Today. “It’s something that I think we’ve all experienced, but … we’ve never really been intentional about.” One of the great things about this particular mental health booster is that any bit of water counts, Azar said. If you don’t live near a major body of water, urban fountains and canals count, too, as do pools and even bathtubs. And if accessing any of that is a challenge, you can also reap benefits from simply listening to or watching water — there are plenty of options online that offer the sound of waves crashing or the gentle ripples on a peaceful lake. “You only need maybe up to two hours a week,” Azar said. “So a couple of minutes every day of that exposure can make a real difference.”

Why Water Works