I haven’t had a bath for 6 months.
An ice bath, that is.
But it’s time.
6 months ago I fractured my big toe and lost the nail, so I had to give up the cold plunge.
Conveniently, it was also winter, so I was happy to stay in bed.
But now it’s time to restart the routine.
And because I’m a behavioural scientist, I’m going to use the techniques I teach to improve the odds I’ll stick to it.
How?
By reducing friction and making it small. Making it as easy as possible to do it.
For example:
- Yesterday I cleaned and filled the bath, so this morning I just need to get in.
- I’m not starting too cold. 11°C (52°F) feels cold, but it’s not as cold as I’ve done in the past.
- I’m staying in for a shorter period of time. Eventually I’ll get to 5 minutes, but 3 minutes is plenty for now.
The secret to adopting any routine, particularly if it’s a little challenging, is keeping it small and simple.
Design it so it’s difficult to fail, not difficult to do.
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