11 Terrific Reasons To Try Cold Water Swimming This Christmas

I’ve been a watersports and outdoors enthusiast all my life, but up until 2020 I had very much fallen in to the camp of people who loved to be in the water in the summer months, on a holiday abroad, or failing that, have every inch of me covered with some seriously hardcore neoprene.

But then the world changed, our lives changed and I kept on seeing certain friends raving about their cold water swimming. Like anyone I can feel pretty uninspired when it is chucking it down with rain outside and freezing cold, but with a newfound appreciation for the world around me, and wanting to get a better idea of this massive new trend, I decided to take the plunge - quite literally.

So from an entirely personal perspective, here are the 11 reasons I would encourage you to give cold water swimming a shot this winter.

1. It’s easy - as long as you can swim, this is a sport for everyone. It’s also super sociable and great to do with friends and family.
2. It’s not as bad as you think - I went in some pretty cold water, and I found that if I was mentally prepared for it to be cold, I really didn’t mind it, and actually enjoyed gradually getting in the water.
3. 3.Post-swim glow - whether it is just feeling smug, or a real endorphin rush, there is no denying, once you have put yourself through getting in the water when it is genuinely really cold, you just feel terrific, mentally and physically.
4. Post-swim showers never felt so good - something we do all the time, taken to the next level.
5. Exploring new places - in my quest to find some perfect spots for a dip, I found some absolutely beautiful places on my doorstep that I had never come across before.
6. Seeing new things - I had never swum with seals before, only observed them from a paddleboard. Last year I frequently came across these beautiful inquisitive creatures, showing how it is really done. What a way to connect to nature.
7. It is really good for you - There is now loads of data on this. It is good for you, mind, body and I would suggest soul too. I hate being ill, so anything that acts as an immune system boost is all good in my book.
8. It’s fun! - there is something joyful about casting your usual reservations aside and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Water doesn’t only have healing properties, it energises and refreshes you.
9. You don’t have to stay in for long - if it is mid winter, freezing, raining etc - even a few minutes will leave you feeling super uplifted and earn you some serious credibility with whoever you choose to tell!
10. It’s great for a hangover - if you are feeling a bit worse for wear this festive season, it is one of the best hangover cures I know!
11. “Why not, it’s Christmas” - that doesn’t just apply to eating another mince pie. So give it a go, I guarantee you will feel better for it.

Hopefully it goes without saying, but if you are new to cold water swimming please do your research first, make sure you, and where you are swimming are safe, and make sure you are well prepared to warm yourself up afterwards, the afterdrop really can bite if you are not equipped to deal with it. If you want to find out more about afterdrop, check out our blog on it here