Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Blue mind: Why we love water

One of my favorite things to do after a stressful work day is drive up the Pacific Coast Highway – to Point Mugu – and plant my rear-end in the…

  • Share
By Steve Chiotakis • Jul 26, 2014 • 1 min read

“Life on The Beach” by Motorito via Flickr/CC

One of my favorite things to do after a stressful work day is drive up the Pacific Coast Highway – to Point Mugu – and plant my rear-end in the sand or on a rock, or walk a few feet into the Pacific. The smell of the salt water, the sound of crashing waves – it’s zen for me.

I certainly don’t think I’m alone. Most of us are drawn to the water. It’s calming, it’s relaxing. It feels good.

Wallace J. Nichols is a marine biologist and researcher at the California Academy of Sciences and he wrote “Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do.”

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Steve Chiotakis

    Afternoon News Anchor

    Arts & Culture StoriesEnvironmentArts