Time to book a beach vacation for your health: 65% of people find being near blue spaces — beaches, rivers, canals — boosts their mental health, according to research by The Mental Health Foundation. Spending time in blue spaces also reduces the risk of physical ailments like obesity and cardiovascular disease due to improved mental health, according to a separate study. Even though we are considered a majority urban-dwelling species, these studies show being in nature can evoke feelings of tranquility and relaxation which reduce stress and combat depression.

Forget the shrink’s couch, try nature therapy: You can boost your immunity and prevent diseases by exposing yourself to “nature therapy,” according to a study by Chiba University. Indoor experiments have found that looking at nature and blue spaces can boost psychological and physiological health showing improvements in salivary cortisol levels, blood flow, blood pressure and brain activity. Natural sounds — especially water — can also activate non-directed attention, allowing the mind to relax and sound of wind and waves improves sleep and memory.