I can vividly remember my alarm blaring in my ear at 5:30 A.M and thinking: What am I doing? While the rest of the town was fast asleep, I was climbing mounds of snow just to reach the shore. This water wasn’t your average “pool” temperature; it was Lake Michigan in the dead of winter, covered in ice. Thinking back, I don’t know how a 12-year-old signed up for this.

Now that cold plunging is becoming a worldwide activity, you may think that’s what inspired me to do it. However, I was actually inspired by my dad, who created a local plunging club and highly encouraged me to try it. I remember dragging myself out of bed at 5:30 a.m., and the first thing I thought to myself was about the insanity of the situation, but that’s also what fueled me in a sense. I usually woke up initially with fear and hesitance, but then I would think to myself: “This is crazy, I have to do this.”

I can still remember my first plunge; it was 5:30, and we were racing down to the beach trying to make it in time before the sun came up. It was below freezing with snow on the ground. I was immediately welcomed by the group of plungers who chose to participate that morning. We greeted each other and started to move towards the shore. 

I remember thinking that this had been the coldest I had ever been, but I was lifted up by the other plungers telling me that I was their motivation. How was I supposed to turn around and get in the warm car after those types of comments? So I proceeded. 

The cold hits you like a brick wall, almost shocking you. Most people don’t know that the hardest part, in my opinion at least, is to proceed slowly as it gets deeper until you are about belly-button deep, then submerge yourself up to your neck. The adrenaline rush was different this time, more of like a: no way I’m doing this right now. 

Afterwards, I expected frostbite and misery, but I actually felt alive and accomplished. This natural source of energy isn’t the type of energy that a good night’s sleep would even provide. You would be surprised how much you can get out of sitting in freezing water for a few minutes.

As time went on, Lake Forest Plungers began to grow. What started as a group of a few adults turned into large groups. For example, the Paws for Patrick fundraiser had over 100 people plunging. LF Plungers even held nighttime plunges, and people outside of the U.S. began to reach out, saying that they were inspired to plunge where they live, and loved seeing their content. 

I can’t say that cold plunging completely changed my life. My problems didn’t suddenly disappear, and I haven’t become perfect since then. But what I do know is that good things come out of stepping outside your comfort zone. Since then, there have been countless times when I have been scared of what’s in front of me, but I remind myself of what I got out of sitting in a freezing lake at 5:30 a.m., and it makes things look a little less scary.

Cold plunging isn’t for everyone. It definitely takes a specific type of person to enjoy sitting in freezing water, and it’s not always enjoyable. But at the same time, it’s what you get out of it, and there are numerous benefits. It’s the kind of thing that you won’t fully understand until you get out there and try it.