Living through the pandemic in 2020, everyone experienced the feeling of being trapped within the premise of their house. Even homebodies were yearning to have a night out with friends. Gladly, it seems like boating was the answer many found to satisfy their craving for the outdoors and still keep in the safety of social distancing. According to National Marine Manufacturers Association, the sales of new powerboats in the US increased by 12 percent from 2019 to 2020 and an increase in first-time boat buyers for the first time in 10 years was recorded. The heightening boat demands have even created a supply shortage that was unexpected by dealers, which its details are outlined in the CNBC article.
So, boating is enjoyable and rising in popularity, but how exactly can boating promote health and wellness? Here are a couple of those reasons backed by researcher studies:
1. The Mighty Presence of Water: relaxation and healing
An article from the New York Post described a study that found “those who lived less than a mile away from the ocean were 22% less likely to report issues such as depression and anxiety.” But don’t worry if you don’t live near coastal waters because any ‘blue space’-referring to any body of water- can have a positive impact on our bodies. The study that proved this point is detailed in The Guardian article that describes the strong correlation between water and health. The mere presents of water can help lower our stress and anxiety. The study encouraged city architects to add water features in cities.
The book “Blue Mind” by Biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols is a popular book in the boating community that analyzes with scientific evidence boating can help people relax. It helps to take our eyes off our screens and capture the beautiful entertainment of the natural world. Not only is water essential for our physical bodies, but it can be argued that water is essential for our mental health too.
2. Sunlight Exposer
Being on the water comes with free consumption of vitamin D, which is good for the body. The sunlight out in the waters can help us make up for all the missed sunlight intake, especially while being home for a long time due to the pandemic. Plus, there is the benefit of the water around us to keep us cool despite the strong rays of the sun.
Sunlight can, by Forbes article:
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Elevate mood
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Improve sleep
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Promote bone growth
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Strengthen the immune system
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Lower blood pressure
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Reduce the risk of melanoma
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Promote weight loss
3. Longer Life
Physical activity is proven to improve our wellness, but it was further proven through research done by the National Institutes of Health that a person’s life expectancy can increase as much as 4.5 years through physical activity. The study states that just leisure-time physical activities can help increase life expectancy, showing a strong association with physical activity and longer life expectancy. The mere act of heading out to ‘blue spaces’ can improve the levels of your physical activity. We all want to live longer, right? Why not fit in some boating time to extend it.