Or the ice plunge that changed my health forever. 

I may have almost given myself hypothermia when I was in high school. I am not kidding. Here’s how it happened. 

I have a tendency towards “anger issues.”

When I get mad, it tends to be a physical thing. “Seeing red” is literal. I get shaky. Hyper. Fully and completely enraged. 

This is what landed me in martial arts as a kid. (My parents thought punching my rage out in a safe and sensible environment might help. It did. Thanks guys.) 

In one of these moments of rage, with no punching bag in sight, I chose to fill up a bathtub with freezing water. 

My mom told me I needed to go “cool down,” and I followed the instructions in the most literal sense. The water must have been about 40 degrees. I set a timer for 10 minutes and did my first cold plunge. 

Here are some critical notes. 

This cold plunge was not wise. 

Every online resource says to ease slowly into the cold plunge habit. Not start right off the bat with ten minutes. 

Also, I did not know any of the right breathing exercises. Any information about how to regulate my body temperature. I only knew that I was mad and needed to chill. 

My impulsive 10-minute cold plunge was… a tad stupid. 

Think of cold plunging like a sport. You don’t start with a 10-mile run. Or 20-pound weights. You gradually ease into the habit. 

Start with 30 seconds for a few days, increase by 30 seconds. Work up to bigger numbers. 

This cold plunge is what made me research the Wim Hof Method. 

After my ten-minute cold bath, I felt good. 

Like, better than I had felt in years. I felt calm. My anger was gone. I was (both physically and mentally) chill. 

Trying to warm up afterward, I went down a research rabbit hole, making sure I wouldn’t die. I discovered the Wim Hof Method website while looking it up. I was obsessed. It made such a difference when I started practicing the breathing exercises and the cold exposure. 

My go-to was box breathing, and I found I preferred the Wim Hof Method. 

The Wim Hof Method breathing pattern goes like this: 30 breaths, in and out. Hold not the exhale of the last breath. Hold that breath as long as you can. Inhale and hold for 15 seconds. Repeat. 

It is very relaxing and effective.

This cold plunge was pivotal to my health. 

To this day, give or take five years later, I still cold plunge. 

I actually go to a dedicated cold plunge/sauna wellness center. It’s therapeutic and relaxing and one of my favorite things ever. It is one of the best things I can do for my health. 

Why you should try it too.

I tend to rant about cold exposure. 

Trust me, it’s worth the hype. 

It can boost your immune system. Lower blood sugar. Reduce stress. Improve heart health. Help circulation. The list goes on and on. 

One advantage I can genuinely speak for is that the circulation benefit is worth the hype. 

I have something called Raynaud’s. It’s when the circulation to my fingers and toes completely cuts off when I am stressed or cold. Like. My foot can be purple, and my toes will be white like a corpse. Also, my lips turn shockingly blue when I am stressed or cold.

It’s a frustrating issue. Cold exposure has been hugely helpful. 

It seems contradictory because cold is a trigger, but I swear it helps. Gradually, over time, my circulation improved when exposed to cold. 

(Stress? Not so much. That still seriously messes with my blood flow. But I have my fingers crossed that it will help with that eventually.)

Where to begin. 

As I said earlier, start with 30 seconds. 15 if it suits you better. 

Anything makes a difference, and it gets easier with time. Once you get into the habit and feel the benefits, it gets addictive. 

So, please don’t follow in my footsteps. Work into the habit. 

It’s worth it. 

Research more: Wim Hof Method