Why you should go to the beach to recharge, and five of Hong Kong’s best beaches to do just that
- Whether it’s the sound of the waves, the sand between your toes, the vitamin D, or the colour of the water, a visit to the beach improves your well-being
- From Shek O to Turtle Cove, Hong Kong has plenty of beautiful beaches on which to recharge. We pick five of the best
When Carolina Orlowska wants to unwind or has a big decision to make and needs mental clarity, she heads to the beach. The 34-year-old entrepreneur, who is based in Phuket, in Thailand, says that spending time at the beach calms her mind and settles her emotions, helping her think more clearly.
“There’s something about listening to the waves, breathing in that salty ocean air, splashing about in the water and feeling the sand between my toes that makes me feel grounded, free and at peace,” says Orlowska. “They say that being in nature has a healing, calming and rejuvenating effect, but you don’t always have to be surrounded by greenery – the beach is just as good at improving the way you feel and helping you put all your thoughts and feelings into perspective.”
Science certainly supports the notion that being at the beach is beneficial to our mental and emotional health. One study, published in 2016 in the Journal of Coastal Zone Management, found that people who lived by the seaside showed higher positive psychological effects and had lower negative psychological effects compared to people who lived inland.
Coastal environments were also found to have different effects across different age groups, with elderly folks experiencing more positive consequences than younger or middle-aged people who lived in coastal areas.
Another study, which analysed census data collected in England, uncovered a positive association between health and well being and living near the coast. This study was published in 2013 in the journal, Health & Place.
