WHEN PRESENCE AND NAKEDNESS GIVE STRENGTH

 

 

Winter bathing or year-round bathing is about so much more than physical well-being and endurance.

 

It is very much also about mental well-being. Being together over something other than sitting around a table.

 

We, Ida and Barbara (co-founders of NORDBAEK), meet several times a week with our friends from the neighborhood. We get together in both the grey everyday moments and when there is something to celebrate (like in the picture, which was on New Year’s Eve).

 

We often agree to meet “in just our robes,” without makeup or filters, so we can head to the water together quickly and easily, jump into the fresh water and drape our robes around us so we can share bits and pieces with each other before heading home again — to all the daily tasks that we women inevitably have every day — with families and children of all ages.

 

We are bare and close when we are together. We draw strength from our outings by the sea. Winter bathing gives us strength to get through the day and life, as well as the smaller and larger crises across our six families.

 

We call ourselves the “Cheer Squad,” because we listen to each other, laugh, cry and always find support in meeting often — in the middle of everyday noise. Knowing each other’s ups and downs — and feeling seen and heard.

 

 

We, Ida and Barbara, have heard from all the winter bathers/year-round bathers who follow NORDBAEK that many others also love bathing year-round because of the presence it brings them in a busy everyday life. Meeting under the open sky, regardless of wind and weather, laughing and crying together — feeling followed and supported by one’s regular bathing friends. An invaluable feeling in everyday life.

 

Recently we heard about a — to us — new mental method that strikingly resembles what we love about winter bathing.

 

It is called the ABC method.

 

It turns out that many Danes find inner calm and strength, especially in the cold and dark months, through a do-it-yourself method called ABC. It is said to promote mental health and well-being in the population, and is so simple that anyone can follow it.

The fun thing about it is that winter bathing matches the method in many ways. We would therefore like to share it with you, if you haven’t heard of it yet:

 

 

 

'The ABC method' can promote mental health.

 

The approach is called 'Act-Belong-Commit', which in Danish is called 'ABC for mental sundhed' and can be translated as:

 

• ACT: Do something active - Research shows that people who are physically, socially, mentally and spiritually active have better mental health than those who are not active. An active body, brain and mind — especially in the company of others — is naturally enriching and a healthy alternative to worry, anxiety, overthinking or alcohol and substance misuse.

 

• BELONG: Do something together - Spend time with family and friends, be part of a group, and take part in social activities – be part of a community. Research has shown that our relationships with others are fundamental to our mental health and sense of identity. It is a support that can help manage pain, stress and difficult events in life.

 

• COMMIT: Do something meaningful - Engaging in something meaningful is vital for our well-being, and research has shown that having a purposeful activity can lengthen our lives and help maintain a healthy brain. Devoting yourself to a hobby, a challenge, a good cause or helping others can strengthen self-esteem and protect against feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. Taking part socially and contributing to the community can help maintain brain functions and reduce feelings that are harmful to our well-being, such as selfishness.

 

Together, these three points form a simple do-it-yourself approach that promotes mental health, and we hope you found it interesting to read — and that it perhaps reminds you of some of the things you do for yourself in connection with winter bathing / year-round bathing.

 

Happy bathing, 

With love from 

Ida & Babara

 

💙 We have everything for the winter bather, nature lover & bon vivant 💙

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