With sunshine, an ebbing tide, and warm sand to stretch out on, the beach hardly needs more incentive to draw vacationers to its shore. Though the average traveler doesn’t realize it, science is behind the craving for blissful days spent by the sea. Along with the ocean’s healing salt water and fresh breeze, the beach is proven to positively impact mental health. There are many factors that play into mental wellbeing, but a beautiful location and change of routine are a great start to a healthy mindset. Discover why a New Smyrna Beach vacation can improve your mental health below!
Lowers Stress
While you may think you feel relaxed because you’re in vacation-mode, science proves it’s deeper than that. Stress is induced by high cortisol levels, and one factor that heavily impacts cortisol is the sounds of your surrounding environment. Starting your day with cars honking on the interstate is certainly not as Zen as a quiet morning in New Smyrna Beach. There’s nothing like the gentle lull of waves and seagulls flying overhead to usher you into a peaceful state.
A neuroscientist on the American Institute of Stress board coined the phrase “beach brain” after finding how restorative the beach is to the mind and body. Find relief from tension and tap into your “beach brain” with a vacation in New Smyrna Beach. We recommend a direct oceanfront vacation rental for those who need an extra dose of stress relief!
Encourages Self-Reflection
In the midst of everyday life, there’s hardly a second to pause for self-reflection. Even in the rare moments you find time, the brain is too distracted with tasks at hand to focus on looking inward. New Smyrna Beach can fix that! Studies show that the brain’s prefrontal cortex can be activated by the sound of the ocean. Why is that important? The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain associated with emotion and self-reflection.
A week spent at the beach allows you to search within and assess how you’re doing mentally. Take the time to reconnect with yourself, revisit your dreams, and reflect on life by retreating to NSB. Our one-bedroom vacation rentals are right by the sea and make for an idyllic solo vacation.
Relieves “Burn Out”
With so many working from home, the balance between work and personal life has been thrown off kilter. Email notifications, text messages, and memos demand the employee’s attention at any given time making burn out inevitable. If your tank is low, now is the time to use your PTO and recharge in New Smyrna Beach.
While our vacation condos and homes certainly have WiFi, the beach itself doesn’t! Put your phone in airplane mode and relish in the silence of no notifications. You’ll find long walks on the beach and time in the sunshine quickly remedies weariness. The University of Ohio published an article citing how outdoor exercise gave individuals greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy, and reduced anger and depression. Prioritize your mental health and give yourself a break in New Smyrna Beach.
Boosts Mood
The beach is most people’s happy place for a reason! Scientific studies have proven why this gorgeous setting gives us a hormone high. Dr. Shuster, a clinical psychologist, states that “staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.” The color blue is known for having a soothing affect and conveys a sense of calmness. Even sea mist has shown to have an anti-depressant effect thanks to the negative ions in the air. If you’re in need of a positive outlook in life, you’re in need of an NSB vacation!
There’s no better act of self-care than investing in what benefits your mental health. Treat yourself to a vacation with no stress, self-reflection, happiness and more when you stay in New Smyrna beach. Great Ocean Condos and Homes has over 300 vacation rental properties to choose from for your peaceful retreat. Not sure where to stay? Call us at 386.478.7863 and we’ll be happy to help you!