Don't Be Crabby!: Enjoy the Beach and Know What is Important in Work-Life Balance

(llustrative Only)

Ride the wave instead
of being crabby!

Escanaba and San
Diego has great beaches.

The beach life is a funny thing—you can turn it into a peaceful retreat… or somehow reinvent your normal chaos but with sand in your shoes. If you’re the busy type, you’ll still sprint around like a headless chicken, building imaginary to-do lists that won’t matter next week, next month, or honestly even by sunset. Meanwhile, the ocean is just sitting there like, “Relax. None of that was urgent.”

The beach has a way of gently roasting you into slowing down. It reminds you that life is short, your inbox will survive without you, and maybe—just maybe—you should do more of what you actually enjoy. Work hard, sure. Chase goals, absolutely. But also pause long enough to ask, “Do I even care about half this stuff?” If the answer is no, congratulations—you’ve just discovered emotional decluttering.

Enter the “beach bum”—not an actual bum, but a mythical, enlightened executive who traded nonstop meetings for a folding chair and a better perspective. This character has seen the corporate mountaintop and realized… it’s basically the same as sea level, just with less overpriced fine dining and more $3 lobster tacos. 

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Escanaba

The beach bum understands that people often act like they’ve got life completely figured out—without ever asking the right questions. The result? A lot of unnecessary chaos, very little happiness, and zero time for sunsets. If you don't enjoy the present your life is going to go by in a blur and then you dare to look back. 

The beach bum, however, sees through the noise. There’s a balance between getting things done and actually enjoying your life—what some people call work-life balance, and what the beach calls “obvious.” Turns out, science even backs this up: balance makes you more creative, more productive, and less likely to dramatically sigh every five minutes.

And beach life isn’t just about doing nothing—it’s about doing the right kind of something. Reading a book you actually like. Walking along the shore. Hanging out with friends. Sipping your favorite drink while pretending you know how tides work. Maybe spotting a starfish, maybe attempting to surf, maybe just sitting there doing absolutely nothing—and realizing that’s kind of the point.

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San Diego

And here’s the twist: it doesn’t have to be a beach. It could be the woods, a park, or your living room with the phone on silent. The “beach bum” mindset is really about clarity—figuring out what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.

Of course, you can’t force anyone to see it, take on new perspectives or ask the right questions. Most believe they know it all even when their logic is chronically broken and contradictory. People only slow down when they’re ready. Until then, time keeps moving, the waves keep rolling, and eventually… everyone figures it out—one way or another.

"Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment." — Lao Tzu

Emotions Experienced at the Coast and Their Influence on Well-Being

• The study explores how coastal environments (e.g., beaches and oceans) influence emotional experiences and overall well-being.
• It uses a qualitative approach, gathering participants’ descriptions of their feelings and experiences at the coast.

• 

  
  $3 lobster taco
  at World Famous
  San Diego. 
  or 
  explore
  La Cantina
  Escanaba

  Participants commonly reported positive emotions such as relaxation, happiness, awe, and a sense of freedom.
• The coastal setting helped reduce stress and negative thoughts, contributing to improved mental health.
  
• Sensory elements (sound of waves, fresh air, visual scenery) played a key role in emotional benefits.
• Feelings of connection—to nature, oneself, and others—were frequently mentioned as important outcomes.
• The study suggests that “blue spaces” like coastlines can support psychological restoration and well-being.

Severin, M. I., Raes, F., Notebaert, E., Lambrecht, L., Everaert, G., & Buysse, A. (2022). A qualitative study on emotions experienced at the coast and their influence on well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 902122. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.902122