I Swam Twice a Week for 3 Weeks to See if It Would Affect My Sleep. Here’s What Happened

If you're an avid swimmer, you know the joy of getting in a few laps. Being in the water and reaching that rhythmic state is therapeutic. As someone who grew up across the street from my hometown's pool, I've always loved swimming. I spent most summers at the pool -- from playing with friends and taking swim lessons to becoming a swim instructor, working as a lifeguard and swimming competitively. Spending time in the water is not only fun, but this enjoyment is backed by science. The popular "blue prescription" or the Blue Mind Theory, popularized by marine biologist Wallace Nichols, suggests an intrinsic beneficial connection exists between humans and water. Being around water or "blue space" is said to increase dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin in the brain and decrease cortisol levels, which lowers heart rate and stress levels. So, I set out to find out whether it would affect my sleep quality. Initial thoughts and expectations For this experiment, I wanted to investigate the impa ... Read full article.