Can Swimming Boost Happiness?

Some people might say happiness is simply a state of mind. However, other individuals find happiness with favorite activities, such as daily walking and yoga, because of their various psychological and physical benefits. If you’re considering having a pool installed at your home by one of the premier San Diego pool companies and you’re wondering whether or not swimming is something that can naturally boost your mood, the answer is a resounding “yes,” and here are some reasons why.

Provides a Feel-Good Hormone Boost

One way swimming can make you happy is by increasing the production of endorphins, which are hormones that affect mood. Produced by the pituitary gland, these hormones work in the brain in a way that stimulates opiate receptors and increases the overall feeling of wellbeing. This natural endorphin boost is also why swimming is a great way to introduce kids to regular exercise.

Causes Less Pain

The endorphin boost that goes along with swimming can also minimize the way the brain interprets pain, including some forms of chronic pain. Swimming is also an easier way to tone and strengthen core muscle groups because of water’s natural buoyancy. This added muscle strength and soft tissue stimulation can make you feel good if it results in less pain when you’re back on dry land. Swimming in a heated pool can further ease pain.

Provides a Mental Health Boost

A small study published in the journal Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology found swimming can be good for your brain. Specifically, it suggests swimming puts the brain in a good place by increasing circulation and helping with the delivery of beneficial nutrients. A healthier brain tends to contribute to an uptick in happiness.

Encourages Healthy Breathing Habits

Proper swimming techniques include breathing in a more efficient way to enhance lung capacity. Breathing this way allows for greater oxygen intake and increased circulation. Additionally, moist pool air could ease certain respiratory or sinus-related symptoms and increase lung volume in a way that makes you happier when you get out of the pool.

Helps with Physical Stress Relief

Swimming does more than promote mental relaxation. It can also make you feel physically calmer and more relaxed. This could certainly make you happier if you treat yourself to an evening swim after a particularly demanding day. Plus, you can further increase your physical stress relief by combining swimming with other ways to enjoy your pool, such as relaxing on a pool float.

Improves Sleep Habits

Sleep is essential to overall health, both physical and mental. It’s also something that helps you stay focused, productive, and happy, partly because of the natural rejuvenation process that occurs during the deeper stages of sleep. A National Sleep Foundation survey found people who get regular forms of exercise, which can include swimming, report enjoying better sleep habits.

Makes You Feel Better Because of the Color of the Water

According to Psychology Today, the color blue has been associated with feelings of calm and happiness. In fact, some people find swimming in bright blue pool water soothing, calming, and relaxing in itself. Combine this with the other perks of swimming, and it’s easy to see why swimming and happiness go hand in hand.

If you’re ready to add a pool to your home so you can enjoy the mood-boosting benefits of swimming, reach out to the experienced pros at San Diego Pools. As premier specialists in modern pool design, we’ve been building high-quality pools for more than forty years, and we can build a pool that’s perfect for you and your family. Give us a call today at 888-707-7786 to learn how we can build the pool of your dreams.