Could sea views provide health and happiness boost?

Sea views new properties

• Research finds that benefits of blue spaces are felt ‘within minutes’ (ECEHH)
• Key-ready homes available for instant happiness boost (Taylor Wimpey España)
• Sea air can reduce stress, while parents play more at the seaside

The past couple of years haven’t been easy. At times, they’ve been very, very hard, with people suffering both physically and mentally as a result of the pandemic. Little wonder, then, that so many people are dreaming of a seaside holiday in the sunshine as the weather starts to warm up. And a sea view could be just what the doctor ordered. According to Ben Wheeler, senior research fellow at Exeter University’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), it takes just minutes to experience the positive effects of spending time near the ocean.

Those effects can be both physical and mental. Sea air is full of negative ions, which can improve a person’s ability to absorb oxygen, making them feel more alert. They may also serve to decrease irritation from airborne particles that cause people to sneeze and cough, according to Professor Pierce J Howard from the US Centre for Applied Cognitive Sciences. Sea water can also provide relief to those suffering with eczema and dermatitis, while inhaling salty air can improve lung function in people with cystic fibrosis.

In terms of mental wellbeing, spending time by the sea can reduce stress levels and increase feelings of calm through attention restoration, combatting the drain on our attention that daily life creates. Not only that, but interviews with children conducted by the ECEHH have shown that the seaside is where children report that their parents play with them more. Other reported benefits include having better conversations and spending more time engaging in enjoyable activities.

It takes just minutes for the positive benefits of being by the sea to start having an impact. It’s something that leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España is familiar with, after building properties along the coast for more than 60 years.

“We see the positive effect that beautiful sea views have when we show potential buyers around our homes. That moment when they first step out onto the terrace into the sunshine and see the waves sparkling as they stretch into the distance is always special.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Taylor Wimpey España offers a range of sea views, from frontline marina properties to wide open vistas where the tree-studded land slopes gently down to the lapping waves. Pier 2, for example, looks out over the exclusive Marina de Sotogrande to the sea beyond. The private, gated community provides key-ready two- and three-bedroom apartments, with communal pools and garden areas on-site. All of the apartments boast terraces that make the most of the spectacular waterside setting. Prices start from €400,000 plus VAT.

Over at Sa Galera, meanwhile, owners are just 300 metres from the beach at Cala Estancia, with views that encompass the greenery that stretches from the development all the way down to the spectacular blue of the Bay of Palma. The three-bedroom townhouses, which are priced from €755,000, provide spacious terraces for enjoying the sea views, along with a solarium terrace from which to admire the delightful sunsets over the bay.

“Spending time by the sea delivers additional benefits when it comes to health and happiness, as people tend to spend more time outdoors. That means they get more daylight and usually more exercise too, so the positive effects are compounded. There’s certainly a compelling case for owning a property on the coast when it comes to boosting your health and wellbeing.”

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Research certainly backs up the benefits of heading for the seaside. One of the largest studies of its kind, back in 2013, consulted 20,000 people about their sense of wellbeing and where they were at the point of recording it, spread out over random intervals. The data showed that people in marine and coastal environments were by far the happiest. Perhaps it’s time to take the plunge and finally book that flight.