Being out in nature has long been associated with stress-reduction. Being surrounded by water can further improve your mental health and let you experience the natural world in peace and quiet.
If you’re looking to relieve stress and enjoy some fresh air and natural scenery, check out some of these relaxing outdoor activities you can do on the water.
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How does being outdoors help mental health?
Being outdoors can help improve mental health in various ways. One way is that being in nature can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Tree washing, or forest bathing, as it’s called in Japan, is a practice that’s rooted in the country’s ancient tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” The idea is to immerse yourself in nature and let its calming effects wash over you. A 2008 study found that two hours in the forest reduced cortisol levels, or the stress hormone, in participants by as much as 16%.
According to research released in 2020 by the journal Frontiers in Psychology, as little as 10 minutes of being in outside in nature can have a positive effect. People in natural settings had lower heart rates, cortisol levels, blood pressures, and more when compared to people in urban settings.
How Do Aquatic Activities Help Manage Stress?
Water has a calming effect on the mind and body, and spending time near it can help to reduce stress levels even further than simply being outdoors. There are many ways to find peace and quiet near water, whether you live near the coast or inland.
When you’re in the water, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that block pain signals from the brain and produce a feeling of euphoria. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School in the United Kingdom recently published a study in October 2019 that found people who live near the sea are 22% less likely to experience depression and anxiety symptoms compared to those who reside further away from the water.
Wallace J. Nichols, the author of Blue Mind, examined scientific reasons why being in, on, or under the water might make us happier and healthier. He says that “Simply the mere sight and sound of water promotes wellness by lowering cortisol, increasing serotonin, and inducing relaxation.”
Family Activities to Relieve Stress
There are many different ways to enjoy time on the water with your family. Some of the best activities for relieving stress are swimming, fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Kayaking as a Family
Kayaking can be a fun activity for the whole family. You don’t need to be an experienced kayaker to enjoy some time on the water. There are plenty of options for beginners, with family-friendly paddling locations and stable kayaks that are designed to be easy to use.
Kayaking can let you get closer to nature and access areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. It lets you get away from the traffic and noise of everyday life, allowing you to experience the tranquil surroundings of water.
Related – Kayaking for Kids – All You Need to Get Them Excited & Get On The Water
Getting out on the water in a kayak can reduce stress and improve your mental health. It can also improve your physical health by providing a workout for your upper body.
Paddleboarding and canoeing can also be excellent activities, offering similar benefits. These activities can allow you to paddle along a quiet body of water at your own pace so you can take in the scenery and distance yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
As well as simply exploring your local lake or quiet river, you can also load up a kayak with camping gear or picnic gear for an extended outdoor adventure where you can really make the most of your time.
Kayaking is also dog-friendly, so you don’t need to leave your four-legged family member behind. Just make sure your dog (and everyone else) has a suitable life jacket before you take to the water.
Related – 11 Boating Safety Tips To Know Before Getting on the Water
Canoe Camping
Camping alongside a body of water can be a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the great outdoors free from the noise of the city. As well as being surrounded by nature, it can be an excellent bonding activity for families, especially if you’ve paddled a canoe together to get to your camping spot.
Camping can be an easy way to relieve stress. It lets you spend all of your time outdoors surrounded by the natural world, breathing fresh air, and listening to the sounds of wildlife.
Opening your tent in the morning can be a truly serene experience. Then comes the fun of cooking a fantastic breakfast outdoors.
As well as choosing a campground, there’s also backcountry camping if you’re a little more adventurous. Backcountry camping may only be allowed in designated areas within certain parks, so it’s worth checking in advance. Backcountry locations are wild, with no facilities or restrooms.
Campgrounds can be better for first-time campers, as these will often have washrooms and electric hookups. Many lakes and rivers offer boat-in campgrounds that can be ideal for canoes and kayaks. Find this type of campground near where you want to be on Campspot., the site we use to find and book private campgrounds.
Some rivers can offer multi-day camping adventures, with several campsites often located along a paddling trail, allowing you to paddle easily from one to the next.
Related – See these 9 of the Best Campgrounds in Minnesota State Parks for Families that include canoe campgrounds.
Wild Swimming
Wild swimming has seen a huge increase in popularity in certain places. While this may not be suitable for everyone in the family, it can be a great way to reduce stress and improve your body’s response to future stress.
Open water swimming can be an activity for adults who already know how to swim, as the water can often be cold. You should also check the location where you plan to swim to make sure it’s safe for swimming. Wild swimming in a lake or the ocean first thing each morning can be refreshing and invigorating, letting you start your day submerged in the natural world.
Related – Be sure to review these Water Safety Tips for Children before swimming in unfamiliar areas.
Island Picnicking
There’s something so peaceful and relaxing about enjoying a meal outside, especially if you’ve boated to an uninhabited island in the middle of a large lake.
The food you pack into your picnic can feature your family’s favorite foods and a few treats to make it extra special. If you don’t want to way about carrying an ice cooler, see these no cooking camping food ideas.
Make sure you can fit all your food and beverages in your kayak or canoe before you head off.
To add an extra layer of fun to your picnic, you could head off in the evening. This could let you experience the water and the outdoors at night without having to take a few days off for a camping trip. A remote beach can be a fun place to land your boat for an evening picnic.
You could even build a campfire – something that humans have been doing for thousands of years (check the rules in advance for fires in your location, as fires are not always permitted).
Sitting around a campfire is known to reduce stress and anxiety as the flames can have a calming effect. Relaxing in front of a fire has also been known to reduce blood pressure, so it can be beneficial to your physical health as well as your mental health.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting may seem like it’s pretty stressful but it can actually be super fun. And it can be a great family activity, as you usually don’t require any whitewater skills to take part on a group tour. We have been fortunate to have Riversports OKC, an inland white water facility, here in Oklahoma City where we can go whitewater rafting and tubing. You can find similar venues around the country or find a river guide or tour service offering rafting.
This can be an exhilarating way to experience the natural force of a river and witness the outdoor world at a fast pace while allowing you to break from reality. This can help to relieve stress as it takes your mind elsewhere, helping you to relax. Not to mention, it gets you out in the fresh air.
Travel Tip: Viator is a great place to find local tour guides and companies offering everything from whitewater rafting to local food tours. They are who we use to book tours and activities when we travel.
Kayak Or Canoe Scavenger Hunting
Organizing a scavenger hunt can be a great way to get kids interested in nature and wildlife. Canoeing or kayaking can let you move around quiet locations where you may be more likely to spot wildlife in its natural habitat.
You can hunt for anything you want. Make up a list of the items that you and your family need to look for and check them off as you find each one. You can include bugs, birds, mammals, fish, or even types of trees and plants.
You can adjust your scavenger hunt for your specific location. You can even kayak or canoe to an island or other landing site and continue your scavenger hunt on the land.
How does being outside relieve stress?
There are many ways in which being outside can relieve stress.
- Change of Scenery – Being in nature can help to center and ground you, letting you forget about your day-to-day worries.
- Fresh Air – The fresh air can also help to clear your mind and improve your mood.
- Being active – Doing physical activity can help to release endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.
- Unplugging from Technology – Being outside can also give you a break from technology and the constant stimulation that it provides. This can help to reduce stress and improve your focus.
In short, getting out in nature can have many stress-relieving benefits. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, try one of these outdoor activities to help you relax and reset.
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