Blue Mind Theory: The Calm Your Brain Craves

Today marks the last weekend of summer, and I couldn’t think of a better theme to close the season than the Blue Mind Theory — the science of why water makes us calmer, happier, and more resilient.

Think of this issue as a soft dive into summer’s final lesson: stillness, simplicity, and the reset power of water.

If you’ve ever noticed how a dip in the ocean, a long shower, or even staring at a pool seems to clear your head instantly — you’ve already experienced Blue Mind. It’s a scientifically-backed state where water helps reset stress, boost mood, and sharpen focus.

As summer winds down, embracing this mindset feels like the perfect send-off. Instead of rushing into fall, what if we soaked up a little more calm, like the tide rolling in and out?

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Excerpt + adaptation from Wellness Bum article

Blue Mind is the term coined by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols to describe the meditative state triggered by being near, in, or under water. Research shows it can lower cortisol, enhance creativity, and improve overall wellbeing.

Why it matters now: the end of summer is a transition — one that often stirs anxiety, pressure, or a rush to “do it all.” Blue Mind reminds us that clarity often comes not from doing more, but from letting ourselves be immersed in something bigger, calmer, and slower.

Our “red mind” fueled by work, screens, and constant stress, keeps us tense and burnt out. Blue Mind is the opposite: being near water (or even just looking at it) signals your body to relax, lowers cortisol, and boosts serotonin. Think of the sound of waves, the sparkle of light on water, or the feel of cool rain — it’s a natural reset for both mind and body.

It’s not only water. Any awe-inspiring moment in nature from a night sky to a quiet park expands perspective, sparks creativity, and helps us feel more connected. Blue Mind is basically vacation mode, available anywhere.

You don’t need the Maldives to feel the benefits of water. Blue Mind can be cultivated anywhere, a park fountain, a shower, even washing dishes. Research shows that just 20 minutes near visible water can boost your mood, and even listening to water sounds (rainfall, waves, a creek) has a calming effect.

To tap into it:

These small rituals can shift you into a calmer, more creative, more connected state of mind.

Read the full article here → Blue Mind Theory: Taking a Daily Dip for Mental Health

For me, the water ritual this summer was simple: cold showers after long runs with a shower bomb, floating aimlessly at the beach in Mallorca, and even just standing still in front of the Retiro man made lagoon after a chaotic week. Those mini-moments always pulled me back into myself.

Your reset this week: find your version of Blue Mind. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Maybe it’s a bath tonight, maybe it’s a slow walk near a river, or maybe it’s just letting the shower run a little longer than usual.

We’ve been told productivity hacks are the answer to stress. But maybe the real reset is simpler — just more water, more slowness, more presence.

Ways to tap into your own Blue Mind this week:

Reminiscing of floating on my back in the sea, eyes closed, nothing to do but breathe. Stillness disguised as joy. I can’t wait to do this again in a couple of weeks in Formentera.

Fall is coming. But before we switch gears, give yourself one last summer ritual. Even if it’s as small as an iced coffee (I recently discovered Cold Brew with Cold Foam… we are very behind on trends here in Spain!), enjoyed outdoors, or as big as a spontaneous beach trip, let it count.

Summer taught us a lot, from PBs in the rain to terrace dinners that stretched too late. But maybe its final reminder is the simplest one: reset can be as easy as water.

Here’s to carrying that calm into fall.

Stay well,
Valerie

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