GROW WITH THE TIDE

Forget about a beach body – focus instead on building a beach brain.

The pandemic has shown how crucial spending time in nature is for mental wellbeing, but being beside the sea has benefits all of its own.

Neuroscientist Heidi Hanna says this is down to the three Ss – sun, sand and surf. Walking barefoot on sand has a grounding effect, and makes you focus on the physical experience of walking, while the sound of waves calms your heart rate. The atmospheric light from sea and sky at the beach boosts your natural light intake and vitamin D levels.* No wonder people who live at the coast have 40 per cent lower stress levels, according to a study by the University of Essex.**

Recreate this state of mind at home by listening to ocean sounds as you work.