I tried a cold plunge before work, and it was the productivity hack I didn’t know I needed

My friend and I made our way to the beach on the Connecticut shore soon after waking to our 7 a.m. alarms this morning. After completing a quick boxing and strength workout on the deck, we walked toward the ocean for our early morning plunge in the 65˚F July water (warm by some standards, chilly by mine), silently sharing a nervous look in anticipation of how cold the water would feel. We hoped that, after the immediate discomfort, it would be a bit refreshing. Neither of us was backing down. 

A year ago, my roommates and I created a tradition of early morning cold plunges whenever we were near a place to swim outside New York City. While each plunge was met with some initial ambivalence and a jolt to the system once hitting the water, I never regretted them once I was wrapped in my towel. This one was no different—but it was my first plunge before a work-from-home day, which made the benefits that much greater. 

As I walked into the high-tide Atlantic, my body prickled with goose bumps as the water reached my ankles and then knees. With a “rip the Band-Aid off” mentality, I dove in from there. Submerged in the cold water, my heart rate initially increased and then slowly allowed me to focus on my breath and calm down. I had been groggy and tired, but as I treaded, I could feel the cold water touching every part of my body; it was........

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