30 Days of Cold Showers

What would make you begin a 30 Day Cold Shower Challenge? Are cold showers good for you?

For me, it all began a few years ago when Lou and I watched the VICE video on Wim Hof - the Iceman. I had tried jumping into a freezing shower a few times but never stuck with it. And then I started hearing the buzz about the health benefits of cold showers once again. It was popping up all over YouTube from BuzzFeed to YesTheory to Matt D’Avela, it seemed like everyone was giving cold therapy a chance. 

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cum0YI354Y&w=854&h=480]

But for me taking on this 30 Cold Shower Challenge was much more about the mental health benefits over the physical health benefits (though there are many like improved immunity, better circulation, fat loss, reducing inflammation, etc.). I had one big goal for this challenge - could cold showers help me get more grit? 

Angela Duckworth describes grit as passion and perseverance for long term goals. This concept of grit has fascinated me for a few years and we even made it the focus of the first chapter of our eBook Live Creatively. For me, sticking with a 30 Day Cold Shower Challenge was about proving to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. That I am willing to show up for myself every single day even in moments I don’t feel like it.

And it turns out that during the 30 Days, I actually grew to really enjoy cold therapy! Even if at the moment it wasn’t the most enjoyable, right after getting out of the freezing water I always felt energized, happy, and calm. The cold showers turned out to be an emotional reset button for me. I wish I had taken the time to incorporate the Wim Hof Method more often during the month, but hopefully, breathwork can be something I explore in the future!