HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JUNE 2018
7
THINGS I LEARNED
FROM TAKING 176 COLD
SHOWERS IN A ROW
HOW TO BUILD A BULLETPROOF
MIND IN 5 MINUTES A DAY WITH
COLD SHOWERS
“TODAY I ESCAPED ANXIETY. OR
NO, I DISCARDED IT, BECAUSE
IT WAS WITHIN ME, IN MY OWN
PERCEPTIONS – NOT OUTSIDE.”
– MARCUS AURELIUS
When I first started taking control of my
anxiety. I had no idea where to start, so I
did what most people do and went to see
a therapist. After several visits, I realized
that it was not for me. So, I began looking
elsewhere. I had done zero research on
anxiety/mental health at that point, so I did
what most men nowadays in their 20s and
30s do when we have a question about
something, I listened to the Tim Ferriss
Show.
The Iceman The newest episode was
an interview with Wim Hof, a Dutch world
record holder, adventurer, and daredevil,
commonly nicknamed “The Iceman” for
his ability to withstand extreme cold. In the
episode, they talked a lot about the benefits
of cold water therapy. My initial thoughts
were anything but supportive…
Are they crazy? There is no way I could take
a cold shower every morning. Let alone take
an ice bath. It is December, I would freeze.
That may work for a crazy Dutchman, but
there is no way it could help an anxious New
Yorker.
But I am happy to say that I was dead wrong.
After almost a year talking myself out of
it, I finally started taking a cold shower
every morning. And I have been doing it for
the last 176 days. The benefits have been
nothing short of amazing. But don’t take my
word for it…
“THE COLD
MAKES YOU
GO WITHIN.”
– WIN HOF
7 THINGS FREEZING MY
BUTT OFF TAUGHT ME
Although there are many scientific health
reasons that you should try out a cold
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE COLD
shower, in my opinion, the most important
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, founder of Found My
thing it has done for me is building my
Fitness and all-around scientific bad ass,
mental resilience.
wrote a dense report on the topic called Cold 1. Pain is Inevitable: Suffering is Optional
Shocking the Body. If you are scientifically
2. Accepting What is Here
inclined, check it out!
3. The Power of your Breath
4. Face your Fear Daily
For us lesser scientifically minded folks, her
5. Working with your Thoughts
report begins by talking about the effect of
6. Gratitude
cold shocks through cold-water immersion
7. 10% Happier
(ice bath) on the brain. She explains that by
taking a cold shower, you are increasing the
You can start making changes today that
release of the hormone norepinephrine (one will not only benefit you will also benefit
that calms you down) to the blood, which will everyone around you. I challenge you to
have a positive influence on focus, attention, take a cold shower. I promise you will learn
and mood.
something deeper about yourself.
By Benjamin Foley
26 HEALTHY MAGAZINE