How a Cold Plunge Can Help You Beat Procrastination

Got a pile of papers you’ve been needing to go through for, oh, six months? Or maybe it’s a mountain of laundry that needs to be folded but instead just keeps growing. We get it and, unlike your annoying neighbor, we don’t judge.

Procrastination is a way of life for some of us. And no matter how many times we mentally beat ourselves up over it, swear to do better and focus on ignoring the distractions (Squirrel!) that keep us from accomplishing our tasks, we’re still pushing deadlines and pulling clothes out of a hamper instead of a closet.

But what if it’s not our fault? What if it’s just, brain chemistry out of whack? And what does any of this have to do with cold plunge? A lot, as it turns out.

Executive function is what you use to plan, organize thoughts, manage time, prioritize tasks and make decisions. When that’s not working as it should, you’ll lose track of time, get sidetracked away from important tasks and lose focus. And that, my friend, is a hallmark of ADD and ADHD. It’s also a hallmark of living in the modern world, because even if you don’t have ADD or ADHD, odds are you sometimes battle procrastination, lack of motivation and poor focus.

So how can you fix executive dysfunction?

Some of the most prescribed treatments for ADD and ADHD are stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall. They work by boosting the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. And when you have ADD or ADHD, you’ve got low levels of those neurotransmitters.

Dopamine is the “feel good” hormone that is a part of your subconscious reward system. A solid hit of dopamine, simply put, feels good. But besides that, it helps you focus and concentrate. Same with norepinephrine.

So you can take stimulants to battle your procrastination. Or, if you don’t want to deal with pills and potential side effects, you can cold plunge.

According to one study, head out immersion in 57 degree water raised noradrenaline levels by 530%  and dopamine levels rose 250%. (That’s a similar rise in dopamine as you would get from snorting cocaine.) And it lasts for hours.

That’s why so many high-achieving, successful people start their days with a cold plunge. It helps them to be focused, productive and motivated to get things accomplished. And it can do that for you, too. 

Let’s be clear though. No amount of cold water immersion is going to make folding laundry fun. But it can give you the mental boost you need to do it anyway. If you want something to make it fun, try listening to a podcast like The Huberman Lab.

Most importantly, stop beating yourself up for procrastinating. We all do it sometimes. But maybe give cold water immersion or even just a morning cold shower a try. We’re pretty confident it will change your life just like it has ours and millions of other devoted cold plungers.