The Cold Water Habit That Helps Me Sleep Better and Stress Less

How Cold Plunges Helped Me Sleep Better and Think Clearer

For three years, I lived in Crete. Every winter, I’d walk down to the sea and dive in—even when the water was freezing. No wetsuit. No sauna after. Just 10 minutes of cold water and then back out. It was intense, but every time I did it, I felt amazing.

The real surprise? How much it improved my sleep.

At the time, I didn’t think too much about it. I just knew that swimming in the cold made me feel calmer, clearer, and more relaxed at night. Fast forward a few years—I’m now living in Mexico and as busy as ever with my businesses. With all the mental load that comes with that, sleep can be hard to come by. My mind often won’t shut off, especially at night.

I’ve been taking cold showers for years, but they never hit the same way as those winter swims in Crete. Then I started doing cold plunges—fully submerged, colder water, longer exposure. And that’s when everything changed.

My sleep improved almost immediately.

Instead of lying in bed with thoughts racing, I was falling asleep faster and sleeping deeper. I felt more rested the next day and less reactive. For someone juggling the stress and unpredictability of running a business, that kind of recovery is gold.

What surprised me most was how consistent the effect was. It wasn’t just a one-time thing. Every time I did a cold plunge—especially in the evening—I noticed a real difference.

What Worked for Me

I started experimenting with different times of day. Morning plunges were energizing and gave me a great mental boost, but they didn’t help my sleep as much. The sweet spot for me was plunging in the early evening, maybe 2–3 hours before bed. That timing seemed to help downshift my nervous system and let go of the day.

The cold forces presence. You can't scroll your phone or get stuck in your head when you're in 50-degree water. It resets your system. It's physical, mental, and even emotional—like a hard stop on the day’s noise.

If You’re Curious…

If your sleep has been off—or you’re feeling mentally overloaded—I highly recommend trying cold plunges. Not just once, but consistently for a week. Play with the timing. Notice what shifts.

It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

In a world full of noise, cold plunges give you clarity. They strip things down and help you reset. For me, they’ve become more than a recovery tool—they’re part of how I stay sharp, sleep deeply, and show up better in both business and life.