Why Blue Landscapes Bring Nostalgia and Better Mental Well-Being

Longing for the past? You’re not alone, and chances are, the place you’re missing is by the water. A new study found that “blue” landscapes like beaches, rivers and lakes are powerful nostalgia triggers that also boost psychological well-being.

The Collins English Dictionary defines nostalgia as “an affectionate feeling you have for the past, especially for a particularly happy time.” Although it can be bittersweet, nostalgia tends to evoke in people memories of a time long past that is both uniquely pleasant and irretrievable.

A new study led by the University of Cambridge in the UK has explored the physical places that people feel nostalgic about, the features those places have, and how reminiscing about them impacts our mental well-being.

“We expected people to be more often nostalgic for green places since so many studies emphasize the psychological benefits of green, natural environments,” said Elisabeta Militaru, who led the study as part of her PhD at Cambridge’s Psychology Department. “We were surprised to find that blue places are the hallmark feature of place nostalgia.”