In my opinion, there is no such thing as going for a morning swim. A few years back though, I barely took a swim at all. I always found it too cold and a bit of a hassle to get wet. However, one day I simply decided that I wanted to be that person who says ‘you never regret a swim’. So with that, I became that person. As simple as that you may think, and yes, as simple as that. I do believe that we have a tendency in life to overcomplicate things (including myself). Oftentimes, a lot of things sits in our mind and we simply need to follow through on who we want to be, and go for it. I know that this is tricky, but the swimming was so concrete and my desire was so clear so I just started doing it step by step. Gradually, I started to truly enjoy it and I also built up my tolerance to cold water (living in Sweden you cannot expect it to be warm 😉).
Most people I meet that doesn’t like to take a swim, would actually like to, but they complain about the cold water. So, here are my key tips that has helped me to become a person who loves a swim no matter the temperature:
- Do not think too much, just jump into the water.
- Take deep breaths and do not think ‘it’s cold’ cause then it feels even colder.
- Build up your tolerance gradually, start with e.g. 10 sec, next time 20 sec and so forth.
- End your showers at home with cold water (this has made a huge difference to me). In the beginning I hated it, but now I actually enjoy it.
- Turn your swim into a ritual where it’s not only about the swim but where you maybe enjoy a cup of coffee afterwards, read a book, jump into the sauna etc. Experiment to find your routine.
Especially during summertime, my favorite way to kickstart the day is to bike to the sea (I’m blessed living just a 5 min bike ride from the sea). I jump into the water, stay there for a few minutes. I get out of my bathing suit (this is a must to me) and put some warmer clothes on. Then I enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to the sounds of the ocean. Sometimes I even bring my breakfast. Such a cozy and lovely way to kickstart the day. It makes me feel energized and relaxed at the same time.
Do you swim? And if not, what are you waiting for? 😃
