The science of Boxing Day and New Year's dips that keeps people coming back.

The holiday season is known as a time of giving, whether that means purchasing gifts for loved ones or volunteering and donating to charity. However, some individuals opt for a more unconventional way to give back - by plunging into the freezing cold sea. With the rise in popularity of Boxing Day and New Year's Day dips, more and more people are braving the chilly waters, often dressed in festive attire like Santa hats, reindeer antlers, or snowman costumes. These dips are held all over the country, coinciding with the increasing interest in wild swimming - a trend where swimmers choose natural bodies of water over traditional swimming pools.

But what drives these individuals to take the plunge into the cold sea waters every year? Why not just participate in a sponsored silence or grow out a mustache for Movember? Metro decided to investigate. Ryan Hope, the organizer of the Christmas Harbour Swim in Weymouth, described the event as a must-see celebration of festive fun, community pride, and charitable generosity. Jenny Urwin, co-founder of Warmcor, a company that produces open water swimming gear, shared her experience of braving the waves on New Year's Day, bundled up in neoprene. She was in awe of a mother and daughter duo who fearlessly took on the dip in just their standard swimwear. Jenny's first dip on New Year's Day sparked a personal challenge for her - to become comfortable enough to swim in just her skin on the coldest day of the year. She told Metro, "My 'I could never do that' slowly transformed into 'I only do that'. Now swimming in skins isn't just a dare, it's a revitalizing rush you can't get anywhere else."

According to Jenny, the cold water triggers a cascade of happy hormones that leave you feeling euphoric and energized long after you've left the water. It also activates the vagus nerve, which can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve overall cardiovascular health. Regular dips have even been shown to strengthen the immune system, making swimmers more resilient to seasonal bugs. But the real magic lies in the mental shift - after braving the invigorating chill, it's hard not to think, "If I can do this, what else can I achieve?" As Jenny puts it, "Cold water swimming isn't just about braving the chill - it's about finding joy, resilience, and a sense of belonging that stays with you long after you've dried off."

It's clear that regular cold water dips have numerous physical health benefits, making the idea of a Boxing Day dip more appealing. But what about the mental health benefits? Psychotherapist Laura Greenwood discovered wild swimming in 2020, following the birth of her baby the year before. Feeling like she had "totally lost herself", she describes wild swimming as a piece of the puzzle that helped her find herself again. She told Metro, "The first time I tried it, I remember reflecting 'I THINK I enjoyed it' but honestly, I was not quite sure. As someone who hates being cold, it felt odd to me. But there was something about the experience it gave me that kept drawing me back. I had a love/hate relationship with the experience until I fell completely in love. My love for wild swimming, I would say, found me. When I am feeling completely emotionally and physically dysregulated because of inner turmoil, wild swimming is sometimes the only thing that truly shifts it. It wakes both my physical body, mind, and soul up. It helps me recognize that all is well and will be OK. For that, I cannot thank wild swimming enough."

So why do people keep coming back for more, whether it's participating in charity dips or just getting involved in wild swimming? According to Katherine Cavallo, a psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy, there are numerous mental health benefits to wild swimming. Studies have shown that it can reduce the stress hormone, cortisol, while increasing serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins - all associated with feelings of happiness and relaxation. It can also alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Many swimmers describe an instantaneous and profound feeling of calm, a sense of being present and alive similar to mindfulness. Some even describe a feeling of exhilaration or euphoria, which can be positively addictive. As Katherine says, "You only have to see the look on the faces of those jumping about in the waves on New Year's Day to get a sense of what brings people back again and again."

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