Work in Water

It’s wild swimming season, so lots of us are spending tons of time in water about now—but working water into our lives year-round is a very, very good idea.

• Humans have a special place in their hearts for water—seeing it is something we value, a lot, think about the premium hoteliers can charge for rooms with views of water.

• Seeing water through windows has a tremendously positive psychological effect on us. It reduces our stress levels, improves our wellbeing and mood. As a result, our cognitive performance, creativity, and mingling skills get a boost. When we look into an otherwise bare courtyard, if we see a burbling fountain even a few feet tall we are mentally refreshed, just as we are when we look out and see a meadow.

• Indoor water features with gently moving water (think: lobby or even desktop fountains) refresh us via their appearance and their sounds, which is good for how our minds work and how pleasantly we interact with others.

• Fishtanks are just as good for what goes on in our heads as the indoor water features mentioned in the last dot point—they have a meaningful payoff even if they’re not stocked with fish! The same goes for swimming pools and outside water views of lakes, rivers, etc., and stress levels (except for the part about fish, we hardly ever put them in swimming pools).
• And if all else fails, add an image (photograph, painting, etc.) of water – it’ll also do your mind good!