Embracing the Cold

 By Claire Winter.

When did the cold become my friend? It probably started a few years ago when I started getting brain fog and struggled with temperature regulation - Hello, Perimenopause! This was coupled with erratic moods and a lot of tears - at this point, I would have tried anything! 

My wonderful Mum, who is in her seventies, had started doing the Wim Hof method years ago and shared how much it had helped her mental health (she was always ahead of her time). This combines specific breathing exercises, followed by a cold shower or cold water immersion in a tub or bath. On his website, he states, "You are stronger than you think you are." And you are - something about immersing in cold water makes you mentally and physically stronger.

As I turned the hot to cold in the shower, I stifled a shriek and hopped around a bit - thinking, what the hell am I doing? But attempting daily immersion in the cold has become the new norm. Do I manage it every day - no. Am I glad that I try? Absolutely.

Regular cold showers, breathwork, walking and cold water swimming in nature have greatly impacted my mental health and creativity. Although I have found cold water swimming much easier than cold showers.

Getting comfortable with the cold has also enhanced my connection with nature. I have dipped in the Thames, circumnavigated lakes and swum in the North Sea in the winter. I've even fully immersed myself in a stunning loch in Scotland on New Year's Day! This January, we went to the Brecon Beacons, where I swam in a beautiful river and stood behind the rushing roar of a stunning waterfall. Standing behind the immense power of the water was incredible. The joy and exuberance we all felt is hard to describe - especially as it came from my three daughters; my eldest is twenty-one, and my twin girls are sixteen. To see them get joy from nature makes my heart sing.

I started to try open-water swimming in the autumn. I proudly showed up at my local swimming lake with my swimming costume, dry robe and flip-flops. Little did I know I also needed a swimming hat and tow float for visibility and safety!

As the weather turns colder, it is also recommended that you wear a bobble hat, swimming gloves, and socks, which are normally made out of neoprene. There are lots of great websites about cold water swimming and I took an online course that helped me understand the safety elements required when swimming in the cold. NOWCA (the National Open Water Coaching Association) offers a very reasonably priced online course. 

Immersing the legs and toes, they become numb, and a warm glow envelops the body. When you first get in the water, you want to take a sharp intake of breath, but it is much better to tell your mind to slow down your breathing. I connect to a line through the crown of my head to the sky and through my body to the ground and beyond. I call it the inner line, and it feels infinite.

This inner line is a beautiful anchor to peace and contentment and it is something I have been searching for all my life through meditation, yoga and many other practices. I am grateful to have found mine in the cold and nature.

Peace, silence, presence - a perfect moment of stillness. Who knew I would find all of that in the cold?

Breaking the ice

I continued returning to one of two lakes where I live throughout the autumn and winter. In late January, the lake I go to in Little Marlow in Buckinghamshire, Westhorpe Lake, froze over. Swimmers had to break the ice to get in. There I was, swimming in the water, touching it in its solid form. A moment I could have never imagined just three months before. It has made me believe I am mentally strong and can do hard things. I am backing me. 

There is something deeply spiritual about swimming in cold water. It allows you to connect with the elements in a profound way. After all, we are 70% water. Immersing yourself, feeling the flow and currents, and being surrounded by beauty changes you mentally and physically. It helps to foster a sense of gratitude and awe for the simple wonders of nature.

I feel like the cold water practice is like writing; you need to show up for it every day, even if you don't feel like doing it. Walking or cold water swimming boosts my dopamine levels and helps me get into a state of flow much more quickly. Combining movement with writing boosts my creative output and makes me enjoy my writing life so much more.

At first glance, swimming in cold water might seem daunting or uncomfortable. However, once you embrace the initial discomfort, you'll discover a whole new perspective on life, which can also happen when you decide to put pen to paper and just write.

Please note if you haven’t tried cold water swimming, or cold showers do get proper advice on how to do it there are lots of resources online. If you have a health condition please get advice from a medical professional.

Claire Winter is a trainer, creativity and writing coach, and award-winning podcaster. Claire uses a blended coaching and mentoring approach to ignite her client's creativity so they can share their authentic voice and story.  She is a trained NCTJ journalist and started her career at ITN in radio and television. She successfully sold her first magazine business and then built a successful content marketing training and coaching business over the last five years.

She’s also a qualified ICF Coach, Nordic Walking Instructor and host of the Creatrix Journey Podcast, and founder of the Creatrix Journey.

She loves to share her knowledge about storytelling, nature connection, walking, and creative writing. She’s passionate about sharing the medicine of walking and writing and how to create more meaningful connections with your audience.

Follow The Creatrix Journey on Instagram @thecreatrixjourney or check out creatrixjourney.com  You can also Sign up for her creative writing guide.