WINTER SWIMMING & COMMUNITY

Winter swimming as a catalyst for community and new friendships

(The morning coffee image was created by Ursula Bach & Annika Surry - see the reel on our Instagram feed & follow the two lovely bathing ladies)

The wonderful thing about winter swimming is that it isn’t just something we do for physical wellbeing - it’s very much a social activity 💙

Many people build strong social bonds through winter swimming. Just look at Ursula & Annika here, who wouldn’t have met if it hadn’t been for winter swimming 🙏

Winter swimming strengthens both body and mind and creates a unique opportunity to build strong social ties. When people meet around winter swimming, a special space is created where presence and openness are the focus. Standing there in the simple and natural, without makeup or filter, leaves room for all kinds of conversations – both the light and the deep.

Many find that winter swimming becomes an occasion to form new friendships. When people meet regularly for a dip, a very particular sense of togetherness arises. It can start with a short chat about the water’s temperature or a shared laugh about the cold, but often the relationships quickly grow into genuine friendships.

Something magical just happens when we swim together - sometimes naked and completely unfiltered. We’re out in nature. We’re in the present. We can’t be anything else when the water is ice-cold.

Here, prestige and surface-level appearances aren’t so important. We typically talk about other things when we gather for winter swimming - for example, we chatter about how the cold water feels on the body, the color of the water today, or the view. Or whether we should drink our morning coffee from the floating bath mat ☕️

When you find a friend through winter swimming, it opens the door to sharing even more experiences. It might be spontaneous coffee dates after a cold dip, small celebrations at the water’s edge, or planned trips to new swimming spots. There’s something special about sharing these moments – both the cold shock and the warm joy afterwards – that brings people closer together. Or silly things, like drinking your morning coffee from the floating board. Memories you never forget. The winter swimmer will know what we mean.

To get the most out of winter swimming it’s important to keep warm, both before and after the swim. The right clothing and a warm drink make it possible to linger at the water’s edge and continue the conversations. It is in these moments that life’s small details are shared, and the strongest friendships are formed.

So next time you take a dip, be open to meeting new people – you might find a friend for life.

Happy swimming 🥰

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The other day we heard about a — for us — new mental method that strikingly reminds us of what we love about winter swimming.

 

It’s called the ABC method.

 

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

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

 

 

'The ABC method' can promote mental health.

 

The approach is called 'Act-Belong-Commit', known in Danish as 'ABC for mental health' 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. 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 drug 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 are fundamental to our mental health and identity. They provide support that can help manage pain, stress and difficult life events.

 

• COMMIT: Do something meaningful - Doing something meaningful is vital for our wellbeing, and research has shown that having a purpose that matters can lengthen our lives and help maintain a healthy brain. Throwing yourself into a hobby, a challenge, a good cause or helping others can boost self-esteem and protect against feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. Participating socially and contributing to the community can sustain brain function and reduce feelings that are harmful to our wellbeing, such as selfishness.

 

Together, these three points make up a simple 'do-it-yourself' approach that promotes mental health. All in all, winter swimming is a lovely combination of mental, social and physical wellbeing. 

Happy swimming, 
Ida & Barbara

 

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

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