Summer is finally here, and you know what that means: it’s time to get outside and enjoy the weather. That’s especially true when you can find some time to take off work and get active without having to worry about clocking in at the office.
Whether you’re taking a week off or just trying to fit in some fun on the weekend or after work, we have a humble suggestion: get out on the water! We humans may live our lives on land, but there’s no denying that we have a special connection to the water.
You’ll feel that when you’re out on a boat or going for a swim. Water and water sports are good for us physically and mentally, and there are so many ways to enjoy the lakes, oceans, rivers, and even pools that you have access to.
Water, watersports, and your health
It’s always nice to have a roof over your head, but make no mistake: you need to get outside often if you want to stay healthy!
There are a couple of obvious reasons for that (and we’ll get to them in a moment), but there are also some reasons which scientists still don’t totally understand. Being outside is healthy in ways that have nothing to do with Vitamin D or exercise, and being in natural spaces soothes our mental health.
Vitamin D does matter, of course. When you’re splashing around in the water beneath the big, beautiful sun, your body will create and metabolize Vitamin D. That’s great for your health, including your mental health — too little Vitamin D and you could get depressed. Just be sure to use SPF lotion to protect yourself from the sun’s less beneficial side.
Exercise is healthy, too, of course. Experts recommend we get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise per week. That doesn’t have to mean jogging in circles or repeatedly lifting weights. It can also mean kayaking off of the Florida coast, visiting jet ski rentals in West Palm Beach, or swimming in your own pool.
Watersport activities can be intense, but there are also a lot of low-impact options. Swimming is great exercise, and it’s especially beneficial for those with temporary or permanent pains or injuries that could make more stressful activities, such as running, painful or counter-productive.
Fun in the sun
It’s easy to be interested in water and watersports even without all of the health-related arguments. Why? Because it’s just plain fun!
There’s a reason why so many of us want to spend our vacations near or on the water. The sunny beaches and refreshing waters of Florida and other hot vacation destinations are what relaxation and time off are all about. Another fantastic place to go sailing in the Gulf of Mexico where the waters are warm and crystal clear and you can buy boats for sale in Houston, Texas.
That’s why it’s worth investing in a great vacation near or on the water — or a boat of your own, suggest experts who have new boats for sale in Michigan. Taking to the water in your own boat is a wonderful feeling, whether you’re taking a yacht onto the high seas or simply hopping in a canoe to paddle around a lake.
And all of this joy is good for us, too. Your mental health and your physical health both benefit when you get on the water. So get out there! Make time to enjoy the water, exercise, and get some sun on the beach, on a boat, or just as you’re paddling around out there in the surf. Life is better when you dive in.