The birthday book
It all started with a book my friend got me for my birthday.
The Wim Hof Method.
I recognised the man on the book. I think I had seen in some YouTube videos.
He was interesting.
After about a century of procrastination, I finally started reading it.
And I’m no quick reader. I average a pathetic total of 1 book every 3-4 months.
Shortly after I started, I had a family holiday to Croatia in December 2022.
So by the time we went away, I had only read a small chunk of the book.
I had been briefly exposed to all the health benefits of cold therapy from the introduction and I remember I read up to the chapter about how ‘a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away.’
Anyway, so this is how my interest for the cold sparked.
Then I enjoy my holiday with my family.
And it was coming towards the end and I remember we met up with a family friend and their husband for dinner and they were asking about new year’s resolutions.
I didn’t have any at the time.
However, it did get me thinking on the flight back home.
I don’t know about anyone else, but after a holiday abroad I get this huge wave of motivation to get my life in order.
So this motivation coupled with the idea of new years resolutions really had me thinking.
I remember being on the plane and trying to see how I can begin to become better. I had already started working out and was making good progress with that, so I was thinking: what’s next?
This is when getting into cold therapy came to mind.
I opened the Notes app.
And along with some other things I jotted down, I wrote that I have to take a cold shower every single morning.
Day 1
We arrived back home. The next day, the school term started again.
So this was day number 1 of taking a cold shower.
The book said to start off with just 30 seconds and each week aim to increase by 30 seconds until you could stay in the cold for 3-5 minutes.
It also recommended to start the shower off warm and turn it to cold at the end.
I can’t really remember why, but I refused to take that method, maybe it was because it felt like a bit of a shortcut and that hurt my ego but I don’t know.
So, I told myself that I had to start cold.
Anyway,
My alarm went off at 6:30 AM.
And immediately, I was contemplating going back to sleep.
I didn’t.
I got up.
Went to the bathroom.
It was winter. And our house has horrible insulation. So I was already freezing.
I remember just staring at the shower for ages.
It took me 10 minutes to just gain the courage to undress.
And another 10 minutes I was just staring at the knob.
I was so cold.
And all I had to do was stay under it for 30 seconds.
I looked at my watch, “When the clock hits the next minute, I’ll turn it on.”
“Fuck.”
“Okay, when it hits the next half-minute…”
“AHH,” I would yell quietly because my family were still asleep.
Next minute.
I couldn’t.
Meeting The Devil
Then came the most interesting part of all this.
I had to do something I didn’t want to do.
So, I began experiencing something.
A voice.
This might sound silly.
But there was a voice in my head.
Before I consciously noticed it, it was already working. The voice was trying extremely hard to come up with excuses and reasons to get out of doing the cold shower.
It was very persuasive.
Very subtle.
But luckily I was able to notice it and, therefore, ignore it.
Still Day 1
After wasting at least 30 minutes. I finally turned on the shower.
The cold water hits my head, shoulders, chest, and all over.
Instantly, my breath becomes extremely intense from the shock of the cold.
I think I stayed under this cold for a weak total of 9 or 10 seconds.
Not impressive. I know.
But I did it.
The habit
So the next morning comes.
Still freezing.
Still didn’t want to get out of bed.
Still procrastinated.
And the devil? Still talking.
Finally I turned the water on and this time I got closer to 30 seconds.
Success.
Next day: repeat.
Next day: repeat.
The devil was still very much present on all of these days.
Every single day he would show up.
And, to this day, I am still fascinated by the temptation the devil would expose me to.
I cannot tell you how persuasive this guy was.
Every day, he was coming up with reasons I wouldn’t need to take the cold shower.
Every day.
“you did it yesterday”
“you’re already making progress, you don’t need rush”
“you’ve done it all week, maybe take weekends off”
“every day might be too much”
“you will ruin the benefits if you overdo it”
“the water isn’t as cold as yesterday anyway, so it won’t be as effective”
I clearly remember every one of the those thoughts.
But I managed to stay true to my word, which was to do it every day.
So, I stuck to it.
And I learned.
What I learned
The devil never shut up. I just got better at ignoring it.
The cold shower itself never got easier. I just got better at handling it.
And maybe the most valuable thing I learned: how to do hard things.
Thinking about it. Trying to ease in slowly. Warming up with push ups. Waiting for the perfect time. It was all bullshit.
I got better at just doing.
I realised that the most comfortable way to complete the task was to just be under that cold water as soon as possible.
Enter. Turn on the knob. Shiver my tits off. 1 minute. 2 minute. 3 minute. Maybe 4. Done.
Boom. I was increasing my time just like the book said I would. After about a month or so I was under that cold water for anywhere between 3 – 5 minutes.
And I became addicted to the feeling after.
Clear. Energised. Focused.
All because of a book my friend got me. It really did change my life. And I would say that this is what got the ball rolling for my self-improvement journey.
Now
Completing a cold shower every day, for me now, isn’t as much of a priority, so I’m not doing it daily like I used to.
I’ve made peace with the fear.
So now I just utilise it for its benefits outside of discipline, for things like recovery, mood and health.
Recap
To recap, I started taking cold showers. (in winter too, when the water is actually way colder than other times of the year.)
I met the devil, a persuasive voice in my head that prioritised my immediate comfort over my long term success and growth.
I became efficient at getting uncomfortable tasks (the shower) done.
As I hope you’ve gathered, this blog was less about cold showers itself but rather more about the art of doing hard things, the experience and the impact it can have on your life.
What should you do?
I don’t know.
But do something difficult, something you don’t want to do, but you know you would benefit from.
Ideally, a habit that is required to be done every single day so you can have the experience of facing the devil every day.
Remember to not negotiate with the devil.
And stay true to the original promises you made to yourself.
Thanks for reading,
I wish you health and success 🙂
Parsa.