5 Ways to Boost Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing with Blue Spaces This February Half-Term
February half-term is upon us. And with the subtle signs of spring offering a glimmer of brighter days ahead – even if some days you have to look a little harder through the ice on the windscreen and the blanket of grey clouds – we’re looking to our wonderful surroundings and abundance of blue spaces to help boost our physical and mental health. So, here are our top 5 ways to connect with blue spaces and boost your mental and physical wellbeing.
1. Get outside
The Wave Project HQ is abuzz with talk of recent whale sightings off the coast of Cornwall! A rare sighting for the Southwest, it has inspired many a whale-watching walk for the team in Newquay. Getting outside can have a calming impact and provide a perfect opportunity for a moment to reset. But did you know research has found that even the sound of the ocean can help reduce stress So, take to the coast this half– term and combine the great outdoors with the calming sound of the sea. (Whale sightings cannot be guaranteed!)
2. A dose of vitamin sea
The International Surfing Association suggests there are a whopping 20 – 35 million surfers worldwide, so there must be something pretty special about the sport. But did you know that Surf Therapy is proven to impact the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our surfers? And there’s more! Blue spaces, defined as ‘outdoor environments – either natural or manmade – that prominently feature water and are accessible to people’ have been found to lower the risk of stress and anxiety. Which is why we’re so excited to be hitting the waves this year at Europe’s largest wave pool, Lost Shore, in Scotland!
Reaching more children and young people through Surf Therapy is always our goal, and with innovative thinking and ground-breaking technology, we can achieve this in even more locations.
Ramon Van de Velde, CEO at The Wave Project, describes the impact of our work: “As a minimum we improve young lives; at best we save them.”
3. Get moving
This half-term is the perfect opportunity to get those endorphins flowing and reap the benefits of exercise. Turn up the music and dance with your friends or dust off your bike and explore new areas. You could even combine your next adventure with a fundraiser for The Wave Project and help us support more young people around the UK!
And while our Surf Therapy programmes are currently on pause for the winter in England, this hasn’t stopped our Surf Club members from enjoying some alternative options. A recent trip to a local surf simulator proved a hit all round. Check out our website to find out more about Surf Therapy and progression to Surf Club for our young surfers.
4. Get (anti) social!
Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok: we’re definitely not short of ways to stay social. But sitting alone with your eyes glued to your phone can sometimes feel anything but. Why not take a day this February half–term to shake things up and put your phone to one side? As a family or friendship group, decide on a day and time and agree one rule: no phones allowed – no matter how strong the urge to scroll becomes! Want to ramp things up a notch? Why not delete your social media apps for the entire week and reconnect with family and friends away from the digital world.
5. Connect with your community
Whilst it’s true that the focus of Surf Therapy is on our young surfers, there’s no denying the positive impact The Wave Project has on our volunteers, too. Our Surf Mentors gain a real sense of purpose and fulfilment but also experience joy, laughter and a welcoming sense of community. What’s more, in beautiful ‘full circle’ moments, when our Surf Club members reach the age of 14, they are eligible to begin their training as volunteer Surf Mentors, becoming the support for others they found invaluable themselves. Find out how you can become a volunteer with The Wave Project here.