Wellbeing at the beach

The beach is famed as a summertime activity and rightly so. However, I have learnt there is lots of fun to be had at the beach, even during winter.

The golden sunsets

Winter has a lot of rainy cold days but it also has some magnificent orange sunsets. On the rare day of sunshine and a cloud free sunset, I am trying to motivate myself to get out to the beach. All to often, I wait until the weather is warmer and realise I haven’t seen the sea for months! There is still plenty to be enjoyed at the beach even in winter. On the rare occasion of a spectacular orange sunset, it is great to bring my camera along and take some photos and watch the sunset with my partner, friends or just by myself.

Dipping my toes

I rarely brave the cold Southern Ocean waters, even in warmer months. Despite this, I always kick my shoes off and walk along the beach. I’ll try to dip my feet in the water and dodge the waves as they rush in. The cold water can force me to breathe deeply and often leave me feeling refreshed.

Food and drink

While I might not guzzle a smoothie or a refreshing ice-cream at the beach in winter, bringing a flask of hot tea or buying a warm hot chocolate or coffee goes down a treat. It warms my belly and allows me to just stop and take in the moment. If I am with good company, I’ll usually treat myself to some fish and chips to share. I find food, nature and good company go hand in hand.

Health and wellbeing

Overall, no matter what anxieties or worries I bring with me, they are always lessened by a trip to the beach. It gets me outside and moving and forces me to see other people or spend some healthy thinking time with myself. I find it gets me breathing, thinking and rationalising. So, even though the winter winds and cold might scare us away, I’m trying to get out to the ocean and catch the sea breezes and setting sun when the weather permits.