Even if you’re on a crowded beach, it can still seem a million times more peaceful than the bustle of your daily work grind. The crashing of the waves, the warm sand and the sun on your skin are all enough to make you forget about any drama back home.

Did you know that being around the color blue is soothing? It can help to clear your mind and aid in concentration, so it makes sense that watching the ocean waves feels so relaxing.

Science has proven that an increased amount of sunlight leads to higher levels of serotonin, which in turn leads to more happiness. One study conducted by the Baker Heart Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia summarized that “more sunlight meant better moods; less sunlight lead to symptoms of depression.”

Taking advantage of your limited time spent at the beach and practicing mindfulness can actually make you better at managing your stress levels. The best way to do that is to put down your phone and focus on the sounds of the waves and the smells of the salty air.

Taking family vacations has been shown to be very beneficial to kids’ brain development. Exploring new places has even been associated with higher IQs in children.

Everybody gets those deep shower thoughts sometimes. Well, it turns out that water actually does trigger creative thoughts and problem-solving skills. So jump into some warm tropical water!

Even if you were stressed out beyond belief at work the previous day, the second you step onto that sand tends to make you forget about real life. Nature really is powerful!

Did you know that 80-90 percent of people get their daily vitamin D doses from sun exposure? Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health, healthy skin, and mental health. 

Of course, don’t forget to load up on sunscreen! 

Being in a swimsuit and feeling the sand and water on your skin is possibly one of the most freeing feelings in the world. It’s about as close as you can get with nature!

S.A.D., or seasonal affective disorder, happens to those of us who live in places that get very little sun in the winter. The smell of the ocean breeze may be used as negative ion therapy to remedy that. 

A trip to somewhere tropical in the winter might be a good idea!

Clinical psychologist Richard Shuster, PsyD, says that “staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.” 

Meditating while on the beach? It’s like an overload of good vibes.

Our cell phones and tablets are full of positive ions that can, believe it or not, cause us to be irritated and generally in a sour mood. On the other hand, the water is full of naturally occurring negative ions which help to counteract the negative effects of our electronic devices.

With the stress of life, it’s sometimes easy to forget about the bigger picture: seeing the waves crashing can remind you that many of your problems really are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. 

Unfortunately, all vacations eventually come to an end, but if you do it right, your beach trip could make you more productive in your job. Again, practicing mindfulness while on your vacation can help you have an easier time connecting and focusing.

Admittedly, some believe that the happiness and calm you feel on a beach trip might be due in part to a placebo effect, considering you’re probably expecting to experience those things upon your arrival. 

But when it comes down to it, who cares? You made it to the beach and now you get to enjoy a relaxing vacation full of sun and sand!