Waves crashing along the shores, sand between your toes, and sun kissing your shoulders. If that sounds good to you then maybe you should get up and hit the beach right now!
Before you know it, summer is over. Everyone you know have probably posted their beach escapades on social media and all you ever did was browse. Well, it’s time to do something about it.
Going to the beach is not only about getting a tan or about escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Reasons why you should go to the beach are not limited to fun and relaxation. The beach is also great to enhance your mood and your health.
Below are 15 good reasons why you should go to the beach right now.
1. The “D” factor
More than just a perfect tan, the sun is a good source of Vitamin D. According to the Harvard Medical School, just 10-15 minutes of sun exposure especially in the morning will provide you with your daily recommended dose of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, skin and even enhances your immune system. It is also known to boost the production of serotonin, a chemical that works to keep us alert and upbeat.
Be careful not to expose yourself too much, though. Sun damage can also lead to skin cancer so wear sunscreen and don’t stay too long under the sun especially between 10 am – 2 pm.
2. Power of the sand
There is a medical explanation why walking on the sand makes most of us feel good. There are around 3,000 to 7,000 nerve endings in each foot. These nerves awaken when they are stimulated by tiny grains like sand.
Wet sand is a natural exfoliant and peels off dead skin cells. Skin sheds 50,000 cells every minute which can cause pores to clog if they stay attached to the body. This may lead to blackhead and acne. The exfoliation power of the sand keeps the skin clean, healthy, and rejuvenated.
3. Swimming is a good workout
Swimming alone provides most of the health benefits of going to the beach. Swimming gives the body a full workout and gets you to work on deep breathing which improves lung function.
Minerals from seawater also fight infections, help the body to heal by detoxification, and offer some therapeutic effects. The calm of the beach also decreases stress, anxiety, and depression. In short, swimming makes you happy.
4. Get physical without even trying
If you want to do physical activities and have fun at the same time, then that’s a good reason why you should go to the beach. When you are on a beach vacation, you like to walk or even run along the shore. You swim and you try several watersports. The beach keeps you busy and moving.
5. Beach fights aging
You are going to like this. Seawater is full of anti-aging minerals that can improve the elasticity of your skin and make you look younger. Of course, it does not have the same effect as a medical intervention but the ocean helps keep everything tight.
6. Time to unwind
Beach relaxes your mind. A leisurely walk along the beach decreases stress levels and boosts the production of endorphins or the “happy hormones”. In fact, simply being near the beach improves well-being and promotes better health.
Whether it’s walking, swimming, staring at the sunset, or reading a book by the shore, going to the beach allows us to unwind and reset.
7. Time off from work
Speaking of relieving stress, you need to have time off from work. Meetings, emails, presentations, and deadlines will wear your mind and body out. Unplug and relax. A weekend at the beach will help you recharge and rejuvenate and will get you ready to go back to work as a renewed person.
8. Holidays prolong life
Take a vacation or die. Okay, this might sound a little morbid but the importance of going to the beach goes beyond making you feel better. It also makes you live longer.
A life-changing study of 12,000 men over nine years published in the New York Times showed that those who didn’t take a holiday at least once a year are 32% more likely to die of heart attack. So take a vacation for your health’s sake.
9. Meet new friends
The beach is a good place to meet new people, whether locals or tourists. Sharing something in common like love for adventure is a good way to start. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even learn a new language. And best of all, maybe you’ll be friends for life.
10. Good place for good lovin’
Go on a vacation with the people you love. It is a good time to bond and catch up. Being in a different place has the natural effect of bringing people closer. Build sand castles, play catch, go island hopping, and ride the banana boat together.
11. Grab that summer promo
Beach resorts and hotels love summer and guests should love it, too. This is the time of the year when they offer promos, packages, and discounts. Start looking now and you will be sure to find deals in some of the most popular destinations around.
12. Calm with the waves
People on a sleep therapy know that crashing waves help. The natural gentle bass beat of the ocean brings calm. Sound waves alter the wave patterns in the brain to calm you, get you to relax, and ultimately make you happier.
13. Discover something new
There are places so beautiful that even if you have gone there many times, it always feels like seeing the place for the first time. You always discover something new when you visit an island like Boracay.
It could be the locals, a new water adventure, the food, or how the sun gives in to the darkness. Or you might discover something about yourself. If discoveries aren’t enough reason why you should go to the beach, what else will be?
14. Surprise yourself
The beach presents a lot of opportunities to try something for the first time. Never thought of getting your body inked or getting dreadlocks? How about cliff diving? Or kissing a total stranger? You never know what you are capable of doing until you try it. Surprise yourself and who knows, maybe you’ll love the result.
15. Simply because you deserve it
Yes, you deserve it. You have been working so hard and you should give yourself a break. Pampering yourself once in a while should not make you feel guilty. You deserve to be in your happy place.
The beach has more benefits than you can imagine. Do not deprive yourself of all the good things it can offer just because your body is not that toned yet.
A weekend at the beach improves health, general well-being, relaxes mind and body, and most importantly, it makes you happier.
About the author
John Anderson is a Web Developer, solo traveler, and a passionate writer, owner of the Infiltration Alert Blog. He is most passionate about tech and travel trends.