Let me begin this post, about willingly submerging myself into cold water, by trying to express how much I hate being cold. It’s no coincidence that I’ve built my life around seeking out and living in places that are sunny and 75 degrees. I’m one of those people that brings a sweatshirt to the grocery store and wears socks to bed. I take scalding hot showers because anything less is at the risk of being cold. I despise being cold.
So a couple of years ago when all kinds of doctors and athletes and personal development experts and regular folks alike started raving about the health benefits of cold plunges, I dismissed the idea immediately. Nope. Not me. Never gonna happen.
But then two particular travel vloggers, whose channel Mark & I love (Kingin’ It), got in our heads. It was becoming a trend in their videos…they would seek out and swim in really cold water anywhere they went…including Norway…in the winter. What begrudgingly piqued my curiosity was how Aimee never wanted to get in the water. She hated it until she was in the water for 20 or 30 seconds, and then something changed. She was all of a sudden having a great time and when all was said and done was so happy to have done it. Watching that happen over and over again in their videos got me wondering what all the fuss was about.
Last year, on a 50 degree spring day, we convinced ourselves to go for a swim in a Colorado lake at 7500’ above sea level. The experience was a total rush. It forced complete and total presence while we were in the water, that in itself was a mood booster. When we got out my body felt the same warm, relaxed, accomplished sensation that I get after an hours-long hike. For Mark, he likened the sensation to that of taking a shot.
It is a strange thing making yourself do something you really, really don’t want to do. What begins with pure resistance and hatred ends with exhilarated pride and liberation. This is called type 2 fun; something really hard and not fun in the moment that makes you feel amazing and wildly capable for having accomplished said hard thing.
The benefits of cold water plunges don’t stop there. There’s a long list of positive benefits that cold water offers.
Me, in the first 30 seconds. 
Pure enjoyment after the initial shock passes.
Six benefits of cold water plunges
- Immunity boosting
- Mood boosting by triggering the release of endorphins
- Improves sleep
- Reduces inflammation
- Builds mental resilience and self-confidence
- Gets you out of your over-thinking brain and brings you into the present
- Connects you with your environment
Our rule of thumb for a cold water plunge
Don’t get out until you’ve slowed and steadied your breathing. Once we’re able to breathe calmly and deeply (this takes maybe 20-30 seconds) the shock has passed along with the desire to jump out.
For someone that despises being cold as much as I do, it shocks me to say that Mark & I now seek out water for cold plunges often. We’ve experienced the benefits first-hand and they’re impossible to deny. It’s also caused us to find and spend time in some exquisite little nooks in nature that we never otherwise would have experienced. If you’re cold-water curious, we highly recommend trying it out. If you’re wildly resistant like I was, might I suggest trying it anyways, just once. There are some undeniable benefits that come as a result from doing hard and uncomfortable things.
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“Cold-water curious” hahaha! David and I are also late to the cold plunge game and are very recent converts…who knew??? (not a whole bunch of other people shhhh)
That was a great post! I loved the picture with your first 30 seconds in the water!