1496. That’s the number of back-to-back days of cold showers I’ve taken.

I’ve practiced this discipline daily for over four years, from Sept. 23, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2024. Yes, even during the winter (people always ask about that). In 2023, I wrote about reaching 1000 days of cold showers. When I wrote that article, I thought I’d practice this habit for the rest of my life.

However, Halloween of 2024 was the last time I took a cold shower. And in a moment, I’ll explain why I stopped. But before I get to that, let’s explore why I even started this bone-chilling habit in the first place.

Why I Started Taking Cold Showers

In September 2020, I read Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins for the first time.

If you’re unfamiliar with Goggins, he is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, ultramarathoner, ultra-cyclist, and triathlete. In this book (and in his online content), he shared a concept that resonated with me: “Do something that sucks every day.”

The idea behind this concept is that life is tough, and so you have to be tough as well.

Goggins explains, “By challenging yourself every day, you callus your mind.” This makes you stronger and better able to handle the hardships of life when they arise. I agreed with that philosophy, so I took up the daily discipline of cold showers to callus my mind.

I wanted to challenge myself daily to develop a stronger will and more self-belief.

Why I Stopped Taking Cold Showers

I actually stopped taking cold showers for an unexpected reason…

I naturally have poor circulation. My hands, feet, and even my nose get very cold even in warm weather, but they get especially chilled during the winter months. And jumping in that icy receptacle every day certainly didn’t help my case.

And after 1496 days of cold showers, I was just getting sick of dealing with my extremities being so cold every day.

It was uncomfortable touching my face or scratching areas of my body because my hands were always so cold. This same annoyance occurred when I met other people. I would extend my hand for a handshake, and people would immediately yank their hands back after feeling how cold mine were.

But the nail in the coffin was on the day I decided to quit taking cold showers.

As I was in one of these ice bath experiences, I noticed my heart rate fluttering much more aggressively than normal. It felt like I took a methamphetamine. I had never experienced that kind of intense stimulation during my previous four years of daily cold showers.

And if I’m being honest, it freaked me out.

What I’ve Learned From Four Years Of Daily Cold Showers

The average person is not willing to jump into an icy acceptable every day. However, four years of this discipline have taught me a few valuable lessons. Here are the main ones.

1. Good Habits Are Your Liferaft

I think you’ll agree with me that life is difficult, which means you need to be tough to combat it.

Hard habits create a strong character. Cold showers have taught me how important habits really are, especially during challenging times. If it wasn’t for my daily habits, I don’t think I would have gotten through many of the trying times in my life. Habits keep you moving forward despite the difficulties life throws at you.

But more than that, habits (especially challenging ones) ground you during difficult times—they are the liferafts that keep you afloat in the storms of life.

There’s a lot of talk out in the world today that says if you try to be strong, you’re a “wounded person,” or you have “toxic masculinity,” which is absolute garbage. Life is tough, so we need to be tougher. And cold showers have taught me that.

2. Hard Disciplines Become Easy Over Time

You’ve probably quit new habits and disciplines because they are difficult to perform every day. Fair enough. It’s tough to take on new habits, especially hard ones like exercising, healthy eating, and, in this case, cold showers.

But here’s the cool thing…

The more you practice a particular habit, the easier it becomes to stick with it. Few habits are harder than a cold shower (if you know of a harder habit, let me know because I can’t think of anything).

Yet, after a few weeks, it stopped being a difficult task. In fact, jumping in a cold shower became pretty easy after I had the time to desensitize myself to the cold. Now, that doesn’t mean it became pleasurable—not even close.

But it certainly became easier.

3. Every Day Counts

I’m from Canada so it gets cold up here—really cold.

And when those chilled winter temperatures hit, they freeze the pipes under the ground, which means cold showers become even colder. When this happens, every water droplet from the showerhead feels like sharp, bullet-like pellets peppering your skin.

If that’s what you have to look forward to every morning, it becomes easy to rationalize skipping a day here or there.

But here’s the thing…

Every time you talk yourself out of doing a habit, act, or activity because of discomfort, you make the action feel bigger and more “unbearable” than it actually is. You shrink back and become a little bit smaller, in a sense.

1496 days of cold showers have taught me the importance of not shrinking back when faced with challenges.

Final Thoughts

Now that I’ve brought this discipline to a close, I feel the need to share it, as it’s a perfect example of being able to do anything. It was a simple habit that was difficult and, as a result, challenging. However, that challenge is what made it rewarding. And now I believe I can handle pretty much any other discipline I may have to adopt to reach my goals.

Hopefully, this story has inspired you in some way. And if you’re interested in more inspiring stories, proven tips, and insightful ways to progress on your self-improvement journey, sign up for The Motivated And Disciplined Newsletter below.