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30 Days of Cold Showers Not What I Was Expecting
00:00 We are what we repeatedly do Aristotle said therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit The story of why I decided to do this is actually kind of funny And yes, we are in my bathroom right now that somehow felt appropriate for this video. I don't know. Here we are I've seen a lot of positive talk about cold showers recently and I saw a guy posted about his Experience doing cold showers for a full year on Reddit and asked him for some advice It's just a shower. He said I guess he had a point so I decided to give it a shot Now why would I do this to myself especially when it's snowing outside I hate the cold Well, first of all many of us not all of us, but many of us lead very comfortable lives in the developed world
01:00 I'll speak for myself here. All of my needs are pretty much always met I never really have to worry about going hungry or being unsafe and I recognize that many of my ancestors Didn't have access to those sorts of luxuries and many people in the world of today don't have access to those luxuries So I do my best to be as grateful for these things as possible and not to take them for granted But it is easy to fall into a comfortable life and the problem with a comfortable life Is that for me comfortable equals not growing and expanding? Life sometimes demands great things from us Live in your own bubble for long enough and you'll start to become like one of those people in wall-e I personally believe uncomfortable and challenging situations are good there what have shaped me to be the person that I am So if that's how that works logically my thinking is that the more I put myself in those kinds of situations the more I'll grow
02:00 so Discipline. I think we all like the idea of discipline But the word has an almost mythical quality for a lot of us. Like where does it come from? How do you get it? I hear you can attain it if you meditate in the forest at 6 a.m. I Think in reality. It's a lot simpler than that It's just a shower. I Knew I had to build things up or I wasn't going to stick with this new habit I mean, I really wanted to take this seriously, you know failure was not an option. So My approach was to start off by setting the water right below lukewarm so definitely not warm or hot, but also not shockingly cold And lowering the temperature a notch or two every 30 to 60 seconds I quickly realized that cold showers end up being fairly short. So within about five minutes I was out of there
03:00 Nice and awake alert Ready to tackle the day In an attempt to build up my tolerance I would make sure that at least the last 10 to 20 seconds of the shower were freezing and I would count slowly Fortunately I found that my body adjusted to the cold throughout the shower And once I was at that stage, as long as I focused on controlling my breathing I could handle it without too much of a problem You will find that if you set your mind on something you are capable of much more than you think It's just five minutes of cold water. I'll say to myself. I've done much harder things I noticed three immediate perks of cold showers: 1. There's a sense of accomplishment I just did something that was a little bit challenging and that was optional. I didn't have to do it but I did it anyway. 2. You feel wide awake. Like I would definitely feel clear minded which is huge for me I mean That's one of the main reasons I'm creating videos in the first place And 3. My internal body temperature would adjust and I would feel naturally warm for the next few hours, which is nice
04:00 Especially if you live in a cold place in the beginning, it was definitely challenging before every shower I would get this pang of like I don't want to do this however by week two I want to say I started to build up a streak that I didn't want to break and I almost Started looking forward to these showers because of all the benefits that I just mentioned like the shower itself wasn't enjoyable yet but all of the benefits became like afterwards or worth it and then even that changed because I started to enjoy the cold itself Believe it or not cold shower started to become A way for me to give myself a natural boost and to like dive back into work It really did feel like a natural alternative to like a cup of coffee or something along those lines Another interesting thing happened my relationship to the cold has changed The cold doesn't need to be this evil thing to avoid at all costs it's not something you have to necessarily shy away from it can be a positive thing something that pushes you it sharpens the senses a little bit. What I found in the last month is
05:00 That I just had to build things up slowly and now I have no plans to stop taking cold showers Which I never thought I would say. So just a couple of final notes. I did not use the Wim Hof method I think it's super interesting and helpful, but also not necessary. That's something that I might explore more in the future but for this I found that as long as I Took deep breaths and maintained a control and focus on my breath that I was all right Also, I just want to reiterate really quickly that I think it's important to build things up According to comfort level. It is important I think to be a little bit uncomfortable, but I would really warn against doing anything extreme and turning yourself off from the potential of Exploring a really cool new habit the way I kind of see things is that if this improves your life even by like 2% That's so worth it. If you enjoyed this video hit that subscribe button I have a lot more coming soon that I'm really excited to share on the topics of mental clarity and building good habits and productivity I've also posted a behind the scenes video on my patreon
06:00 sharing a little bit more what went into creating this Okay, I just reviewed my footage and I think I'm showing too much thigh. So we're gonna reshoot this one more time This was a really fun piece to work on. I'm trying to push my creative boundaries and really elevate the quality of my videos So yeah, anyway, follow me on social media and I will see you soon. All right. Well, that was fun You can leave the bathroom that way I would appreciate my privacy again. Thank you. Thanks for understanding
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Transcript auto-generated by YouTube. Verbatim — duplicates intentionally preserved.
In a world that often prioritizes comfort, the idea of taking cold showers may seem counterintuitive. However, for one individual, this challenge became a pathway to personal growth and mental clarity. What began as a simple experiment evolved into a profound shift in perspective towards discomfort and resilience.
The journey started with a desire to cultivate discipline and to push beyond the boundaries of comfort. As the author engaged in this daily ritual, they discovered that cold showers offered more than just a physical challenge; they became a sanctuary for mental clarity and a tool for building resilience against life's discomforts.
30 Days of cold showers 2 Percentage improvement in life worth pursuing
"If this improves your life even by like 2%, that's so worth it."
Introduction to Cold Showers
The concept of cold showers has gained traction in wellness circles, often touted for their potential benefits. Initially, the author approached this challenge with skepticism. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit," they reflect, drawing inspiration from Aristotle.
This exploration began with a simple question: how could embracing discomfort lead to personal growth? The decision to take cold showers was not merely about enduring cold water; it was about fostering a mindset of resilience and discipline.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit." — Aristotle
Initial Challenges and Adjustments
The beginning of this journey was marked by hesitation. Each shower brought a pang of reluctance, a reminder of the warmth that could be easily accessed. To ease into this new ritual, the author gradually adjusted the water temperature, starting just below lukewarm.
This approach allowed for a manageable transition. "You will find that if you set your mind on something, you are capable of much more than you think," they noted, emphasizing the importance of mental fortitude. Over time, the discomfort transformed into a sense of accomplishment, reinforcing the idea that growth often lies just outside our comfort zones.
Benefits of Cold Showers
As the days progressed, the benefits of cold showers began to manifest. The author identified three immediate perks: a profound sense of accomplishment, heightened mental clarity, and a natural warmth that lingered long after the water was turned off.
This newfound clarity was particularly impactful. The cold shower became a ritual that not only awakened the senses but also sharpened focus. The author described it as a natural alternative to caffeine, providing a refreshing start to the day. The physiological response to cold exposure—such as increased circulation and heightened alertness—contributed to this invigorating experience.
Changing Relationship with Cold
Perhaps the most significant transformation was the author's evolving relationship with cold. Initially viewed as something to avoid, cold exposure (as explored in this deep dive) became a positive challenge. The discomfort of cold showers was reframed as a tool for personal development, sharpening the senses and fostering resilience.
By the end of the 30 days, the author found themselves looking forward to the experience. "If this improves your life even by like 2%, that's so worth it," they concluded, highlighting the cumulative impact of small, intentional changes. This shift in perspective underscores the idea that embracing discomfort can lead to unexpected rewards.
Words Worth Hearing
"You will find that if you set your mind on something, you are capable of much more than you think." — Personal Experience
Practical Takeaways
Start small when building new habits; gradual adjustments can lead to lasting change. Embrace discomfort as a pathway to personal growth and resilience.