Ep 02 Arrow Tip Tuesday: Take A Cold Shower
Welcome to the Arrow Tip Tuesday series! Every Tuesday, I will provide a simple, actionable tip that you can apply to enhance your athletic endeavors and life.
Today’s Arrow Tip: take a cold shower.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Whenever I get out of a cold shower, I imagine myself as Donkey Kong beating his chest after he just rescued Peach from the castle.
I didn’t always feel that way. After a rainy training session, few things compare to a steaming hot shower. When I first heard about the idea of cold showers, my initial thought was why would anyone voluntarily submit themselves to such torture?
Then I researched the topic and was surprised by all of the scientifically backed benefits.
Cold showers are proven to:
-strengthen immunity
-improve blood circulation
-increase metabolism
-improve lymphatic movement
-detoxify your body
-deepen breathing
-aid with sleep
-regulate body temperature
-alleviate depression
(Here’s an article I enjoyed “Benefits of Cold Showers http://www.menprovement.com/benefits-of-cold-showers/ )
I decided to give it a go. On my first attempt, I turned the nozzle all the way to the left. I brushed my hands against the water and muttered an explicit. You psycho sun of a gun.
These thoughts were the exact reason I knew I needed to follow through with the shower. I had to conquer my mind. I shut off the negative thoughts, counted to three, and jumped under the shower head.
Holyyyyyy Coldolyyy! My heart rate doubled and I felt like my inhalation was being strangled. After getting over the initial shock factor, I concentrated on the white fog of my exhalation. Once I regained normal breathing, I began yelling out affirmation to myself.
“Let’s go Kendall, you are unstoppable. You overcome any challenge that comes your way. AHHH!!!!!”
After washing all the shampoo and conditioner out of my hair (a lot harder when your hair is borderline icicle status) I shut off the shower and felt invigorated. Empowered. Like I’d been defibrillated back into a super-hero physical and mental version of myself.
Cold showers are a staple in my life now any time I need an instant shot of adrenaline or pick-me-up. Regardless of how tired I feel entering the shower, I exit feeling unstoppable. It reaffirms that circumstances are never as bad as you anticipate they are going to be.
Try it one time and imagine yourself as Kevin Garnett, shouting Anything is possibleeeeee!!!
I guarantee you when you exit, a part of you will start to believe it.
Arrow Tip:
Take a cold shower.
There’s two different approaches you can take
1) Slow and steady wins the race: gradually turn the nozzle colder throughout your shower
2) Showtime: don’t mess around, turn the shower as cold as it goes, and do the dang thing.
p.s. An added bonus of cold showers is that it helps reduce energy expenditure, which means less CO2 and greenhouse gases, aka your playing a part in lessening global warming Also, you’re going to save money on your electricity bill. Sounds like a win to me
p.p.s I aint no doctor! if you have weak heart or health issue consult a physician before trying.
Have you tried taking a cold shower? Did your hair almost fall off? Let me know how it went in the comments below!
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