Read time: 10 minutes
Good afternoon, 66.1ers.
Welcome to issue #120 of 66.1.
The boring stuff
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Why you really ought to book that trip you’ve been thinking about
How a change of scenery can unlock your brain
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Setting the scene
"Our brains are hardwired to react positively to water and being near it can calm and connect us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what's broken." — Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist and author of Blue Mind
My girlfriend and I recently returned from a trip to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. A week of surfing, eating some of the freshest food you'll find, and relaxing.
It's a stark contrast to everything about our day-to-day life in Montana, from the sunshine and warmth to the fresh seafood and less calculated, day-to-day focus on enjoying life.
I've pulled together a few lessons from this trip that I'm hopeful will be helpful to you on your quest to live healthier, for longer.
7 lessons from the ocean
1. When in doubt, change your surroundings
When we got home, my girlfriend and I were walking around the neighborhood. Still riding the high from a great trip. We waved at a neighbor who looked less than happy to be driving her kids around in the family minivan. I remarked how she looked rather ornery. And my girlfriend's response knocked it out of the park: "I don't think most people change their surroundings often enough."
I've found that I need a trip (even just a long weekend) every 6 weeks or so to stave off mental stagnation.
Research shows: Nichols' "Blue Mind" research explains that proximity to water induces "a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment." This neurologically distinct state contrasts with what he calls "Red Mind" (stressed, anxious, overstimulated). (Nichols, 2014)
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