Water is an essential part of our daily lives, and as writer Nicola Brown points out in her Fix blog post, something many of us take for granted. But without this common resource, we wouldn’t even survive. About 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water, and our brains contain about 75 percent.

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Brown writes that current humans descended from sea creatures, which accounts for why water is so vital. In fact, our brains and evolution might have grown so successfully because of the Omega-3 fatty acid diets we consumed from other sea animals. While things have definitely changed, we still rely on water for transportation, food and even entertainment. Brown discusses how the most desirable real estate traits include being close to the water and our vacations usually revolve around taking a trip to the ocean.

One of the reasons we likely love the water is because of its psychological benefits. Studies have shown that being close to the ocean is good for our mental health as minerals in the air can reduce stress. Negative ions, which are found by waterfalls, help with the flow of oxygen to our brains. This makes us more alert and provides a boost of energy. Salt water is helpful in warding off depression by elevating tryptamine, serotonin, and melatonin. These also help us sleep better and just make us feel better overall.

What’s more, listening to water provides a meditative, soothing experience. The ocean’s rhythm and natural sounds can impact our own internal rhythms which provides a sense of peace. Water is often thought of as white noise as it provides a gentle, soothing sound that allows us to be present.

Enjoying the beauty of the water also significantly affects the way we feel. According to past research, these positive feelings and sense of awe created by being near water can make us more loving, kind and charming. Plus, it can help us feel more satisfied with life.

Aside from making us feel good, we obviously need water to stay hydrated, but did you know that h20 is important in reducing muscle tension, joint stress and keeping skin moisturized?

Of course, we can’t just hit the beach every time we need a pick-me-up, which is why Brown provides several solutions for getting the benefits without an expensive vacation.

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Adding a small water fountain or fish tank to your office space or home is an easy way to get a visual or auditory cue. Brown also suggests listening to natural ocean sounds before bed to easily fall asleep. Heading to a day spa to lounge by the pool is a great end-of-the-week treat.

For more information, check out the infographic by Fix.

See Also:

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Source: Fix.com Blog