“I find the ocean strangely therapeutic. It’s as if I share a deep spiritual connection with it. It could be because I practically grew up on the ocean. My dad was a marine engineer and me and my mom travelled with him on ships for years. Whenever I felt lonely or upset about something I would just stare at the ocean and eventually the sight of the shimmering blue expanse and the smell of the salty sea air would make me feel better. Even today, staring at the ocean refreshes me, relieves my stress and gives me peace. It’s vastness make me realise how small my problems are,  compared to the bigger issues of the universe.

Research shows that the ocean has many healing properties. Sea water contains minerals needed by your body to heal and detoxify. It heals wounds, reduces infection and promotes pain relief. Conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis and depression are said to improve by swimming in the ocean. I would definitely prescribe vitamin sea to everyone. If you don’t live near the ocean, you can still enjoy its benefits by adding Epsom salts to your bath, using Himalayan salt lamps or visualising that you are on a beach while doing yoga or meditation.” – Tiya Gorain.

Winter evenings often find me in front of the fireplace, writing in my journal. I like journaling on busy days as it forces me to pause, take a breath and think about the day. It’s a mindful activity that I enjoy.

Here are some benefits of Journaling:

1. It reduces stress. Writing down our negative thoughts, fears and frustrations help us de-stress as it acts as a form of release. When we are putting our anxieties and disappointments on paper, we are less likely to internalise them.

2. It promotes creativity. Expressing our thoughts and ideas on paper enhances our imagination and improves our creativity. It awakens our inner voice and provides insights.

3. It can sometimes help in solving problems. Writing about our problems often offers a different perspective on them and hence helps us to come up with a solution. Also journaling helps us to tap into our intuition, thus providing answers to questions.

4. It can help you lose weight. Keeping track of our diet in a journal often motivates us to eat healthier. Also if we make a note of our mood before we had junk food, we will know what triggers us to reach for unhealthy food which in turn will help us in controlling such behaviour.