What cold water swimming reveals about wellbeing in our midlife

Why open-water dips are fast becoming the new midlife habit

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January is the month of fresh starts - a time when gym memberships surge, routines are reset and many people in midlife look for ways to feel stronger, calmer and more resilient in the year ahead.

But across the UK, a quieter shift in exercise culture is taking place, one that does not involve mirrors, machines or Lycra.

Now, a different scene has emerged: women in hats and tow-floats stepping into freezing lakes at dawn - especially through the winter.

Outdoor swimming participation has risen sharply worldwide, and women make up a striking proportion of regular year-round swimmers. To many observers, this seems counterintuitive. Why would busy women in midlife choose cold water as their weekly reset?