The benefits of short walks in blue spaces

Tired of walking the same way every day? Getting physical exercise is good for your everyday well-being but walking by water makes it better.

ACU researchers were part of a multi-country project to find out how well-being could be increased by improving the design of the urban environment around water. The research shows that people in the study reported better well-being and mood after walking 20 minutes in a blue space.

Give it a try:

• Go for a walk and head towards the closest water. It can be anything from a fountain to a canal, creek, river or ocean.
• Download an app and listen to the sound of burbling water.
• Listen to this relaxing Peaceful Waters album, found in the Alexander Street database.

Read the evidence in Research Bank

• Vert, C., Gascon, M., Ranzani, O., Márquez, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Carrasco-Turigas, G., Arjona, L., Koch, S., Llopis, M., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Elliott, L.R. and Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2020). Physical and mental health effects of repeated short walks in a blue space environment : A randomised crossover study. Environmental Research. 188, pp. 1-15.  https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8vz5q/physical-and-mental-health-effects-of-repeated-short-walks-in-a-blue-space-environment-a-randomised-crossover-study
• White, M.P., Elliott, L.R., Grellier, J., Economou, T., Bell, S., Bratman, G.N., Cirach, M., Gascon, M., Lima, M.L., Lõhmus, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Ojala, A., Roiko, A., Schultz, W.P, van den Bosch, M. and Fleming, L.E. (2021). Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Scientific Reports. 11(1), pp. 1-12. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8wqv8/associations-between-green-blue-spaces-and-mental-health-across-18-countries