Throughout the past years and decades, surfing has been growing in popularity and strength. It has become an integral part of modern culture, popularizing a certain lifestyle and aesthetic. For many, it is a passion that allows them to grow, and express themselves, but also provides a certain ease of mind.
Nowadays, when the discussion on mental health is gaining in popularity, questions about the influence surfing has on mental well-being rise. Deakin University, located in Victoria, Australia, carried out a series of research projects analyzing the connection between riding waves and mental health.
Surfing and Daily Well-being
According to Lisa Olive, a researcher from Deakin, each element of the surfing sphere can have a positive effect on our mood. Starting with the sport itself, requiring a lot of focus, it can give us a space to relocate our attention and, in turn, give us a break from overwhelming thoughts and stressors. Practice, or more specifically visible progress, can provide us with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that can then boost our confidence in other areas of our daily life.
Whatsmore, surfing, with its widespread culture, can provide people with a sense of community. Seeing other people sharing our passion can not only bring us joy but be a jumpstart for new-connection. Finally, the surf setting itself, i.e. nature, can have a soothing effect on our mind, giving us a break from our often busy lives. [1]
It is also important to look at our surfing and mental well-being from one more angle. As with any sport or skill, surfing requires practice and as was already mentioned, the visible progress that comes with it can be beneficial stimuli, helping us build confidence. But what if the progress is hard to see and all you can focus on are mistakes that cause discomfort or stress? As simple as it may seem, give yourself time and space for growth. Learning and developing skills takes both a lot of effort and a lot of time. It is important to remember that nobody is born an amazing surfer, not even Kelly Slater and Stephanie Gilmore. It is a learning process for everyone and mistakes are part of it. So do not beat yourself up too much about it. Enjoy riding the waves and improve your skills step by step.
Surf Therapy
Due to its positive effects on mental well-being, for over 15 years, surfing has been used as a therapy method to help patients of different ages facing various difficulties. The method has been used to help people struggling with social and emotional distress, traumas, and addictions. The therapy programs are said to bring improvement in multiple areas of the patients’ lives including their general physical health, strength, and of course, mental health. Surf therapy appears to help with the patient’s self-confidence, decreasing their anxiety and stress levels, as well as depressive symptoms. [2]
Although often seen as just a quirky way of spending free time, surfing can help with different areas of life. It can boost your health, both physical and mental. It can bring you joy and ease in some of those stressful moments. And for some, it may be a way of facing their difficulties and/or being a means to improving their general quality of life.
[1] Olive, Lisa. "Why Learning to Surf Can Be Great for Your Mental Health, According to a Psychologist." The Conversation, 20 Jan. 2023, theconversation.com/why-learning-to-surf-can-be-great-for-your-mental-health-according-to-a-psychologist-196946. Accessed 11 Jul. 2023.
[2] Benninger, E., Curtis, C., Sarkisian, G. V., Rogers, C. M., Bender, K., & Comer, M. (2020). “Surf Therapy: A Scoping Review of the Qualitative and Quantitative Research Evidence”. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 11(2), p. 1-26. http://www.gjcpp.org/. Accessed 11 Jul. 2023.
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