It’s an interesting idea that your mind and body’s well-being is heavily influenced by where you live. But is it true?
Having grown up on the beautiful island of Jersey, I’ve been lucky to experience a lot of what island life consists of. Up until I moved to London a year ago, it was the only kind of life I’d known. Now, having moved away from home, I am able to reflect on the benefits of the unique culture of a small island life.
The People
Firstly, everybody lives within a very small distance of one another. So there’s definitely a sense of everyone knowing everyone, at the very least in some small way. This has its ups and downs. For example, being in the loop of others’ lives means they’re usually in the loop of yours. It can be a lovely and heartwarming thing. And I think it really helps create a sense of community on the island. However, the other side of that is the struggle of feeling overly self-aware, something I know I had to deal with growing up. The pressure of how you present yourself – which I’m sure everyone has faced at some time or another – can feel even more daunting, due to the overly close nature of the community. Luckily, this is something which I believe the island itself provides an incredibly effective quick-fix for.
The Place
A big part of island life is knowing – no matter what’s on your mind – that you’re never far from a beach. If there’s one thing that’s certain about Jersey, it’s that the beaches are truly breathtaking. Personally, nothing puts problems into perspective more than being in nature and marvelling at how beautiful the world is. I feel truly blessed to have grown up with access to the stunning scenery all around me. It has undoubtedly been beneficial to my mental and physical health. The sunsets, the sand, the waves have all brought me so much peace over the years.
Finding Tranquillity
The well-being of our minds and bodies is so important. Yet it’s so easy in today’s busy climate to become bogged down and engrossed in our own daily struggles. Whether they’re work related, to do with relationships or just anything at all that’s causing us stress. Everything is so fast-paced, especially in London, so it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really important; our own happiness. We deserve to cut ourselves some slack every once in a while and do whatever it is that we need to to take back control of our mental health.
For me, it’s always going to be about nature. Living in Jersey has taught me how awe-inspiring nature can be. I find it such a humbling experience to see the vastness of the world, it always makes me and my problems feel smaller. This is why I believe island life can benefit your mind and body and how it can teach you to be more mindful.
