Installing a pool on your property is a highly personal decision that factors in many considerations, including cost, location, return on investment and more. However, these calculations are only part of why owning a pool improves happiness and wellbeing.
Owning a pool is good for more than just boosting a home’s resale value and creating a beautiful oasis within the landscape. Here are some of the main reasons why owning a pool can improve your happiness, giving you confidence in your decision to invest in a high-quality pool installation.
Breaking Away From Connectivity
As technology continues to advance, people are attached to their electronic devices more than ever. This is not necessarily bad, after all, staying informed, reading the news and remaining in contact with loved ones are all important parts of being a well-rounded individual. However, it is easy to let ten minutes of screen time turn into an hour, and this has been shown to have multiple negative effects on people.
Owning a pool helps to break this cycle of constant connectedness. Not only does it give swimmers something to do to stimulate their minds with many of the same feel-good chemicals that they get from social media and constant scrolling, but it also forces individuals to put down their phones. Water and electronics don’t mix!
Physical Health Improvement
Of course, one of the primary benefits of owning a pool is the at-home access to high-quality physical exercise. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that is doable for almost anyone. With accessibility tools, such as floatation devices, bringing this fun activity to people who may not be able to participate in other sports.
Studies have shown that people who swim often are at a lower risk of death from the most common causes in the United States, such as cardiovascular disease. People with arthritis remain more comfortable and flexible if they maintain a swimming regimen, and burning calories is easy thanks to the need to keep the body in a constant state of minor movement. This combats obesity and improves lung capacity.
The Benefits of Sunlight
When the weather is nice and the temperature is pleasant, heading outside for a swim is on the top of many people’s minds. Owning a pool encourages individuals to seek time out in the sun as they swim.
Responsible sun exposure has been shown to decrease depressive and anxious thoughts by stimulating dopamine and serotonin pathways in the brain. The UV rays from the sun also promote vitamin D production and turn on sun-dependent biological pathways in the body to keep swimmers healthy.
Bonding and Personhood
The pool is a great place for socialization, which can be sorely lacking among the responsibilities of work, childcare, shopping and other important tasks. Whether homeowners choose to play with family or invite friends for a relaxing soak, owning a pool opens up the possibility for connection.
For individuals who have chosen to invest in a pool on their own and who live solo, do not forget that investing in a relationship with yourself is just as important! Treat yourself to relaxation and physical engagement in the pool as a type of meditative boost that benefits solo swimmers too.
Stress and Neurotransmitters
Multiple studies have shown that the impact of swimming goes far beyond just strengthening muscles. It also impacts the neurotransmitters that the brain creates, and it is these chemicals that affect a person’s mood.
Swimming has been correlated with a reduction in stress, and people who swim frequently have been found to be less vulnerable to stressors over time. Owning a pool provides the opportunity for swimmers to cultivate a more positive stress response and become more resilient to depressive thoughts and anxiety.
Additionally, swimming boosts serotonin—one of the “feel good” chemicals—and can even improve memory. When you swim, your brain is getting just as much of a boost as your body. This makes owning a pool an investment not only in physical wellbeing but in mental and emotional health as well. For some, there is no better therapy than a couple laps in the crisp water.
Invest in a Pool to Invest in Yourself
When deciding whether owning a pool is the right choice for you, it’s important to balance considerations such as cost, long-term maintenance and aesthetic value. However, do not forget to consider how investing in a pool can benefit your own happiness and wellbeing as well.
The family-owned team at Masten Pools has decades of experience installing pools right the first time. This way, you can reap all of the benefits of owning a pool without worrying that your investment will only last for a few years. Contact us to learn more about our options, such as vinyl in-ground pools, or to discuss your vision for your Delaware or Maryland property.