6 months in an ice bath.

So, last September, Sue buys an ice bath. Big black barrel thing, sticks it in the garden, and I don't even notice it for several hours. Which is mad because it looks like something you'd store nuclear waste in. Anyway, when I finally clock it, she tells me she will start using it three times a week. That was it. No way was I getting out ice-bathed in my own house, my ego would not allow it, so I committed to five.

I also committed to doing it for six months. I like a challenge, and this seemed like a good one. It would cover the coldest time of year, and I figured if I could nail those months, nothing could stop me.

So now 6 months down the line and having nailed the challenge, here are some things it has done for me:

1. Mental Toughness That Carries Over to Everything

Every morning, I stare at that freezing water, and my brain screams, "Mate, just get in a hot shower." And every morning, I get in anyway. That little battle rewires your head. It makes you tougher, more disciplined, and less likely to wimp out of other stuff in life. If you can get into an ice bath when every fibre of your being is saying no, you can handle a tough workout, a hard day at work, or some knobhead at the checkout in Sainsbury's.

2. Faster Recovery.

I've been training hard for the last year and have gotten used to always having some body part aching, but this has taken my recovery to another level. Less soreness, faster bounce-back, and I don't feel like I've been hit by a truck after heavy sessions. If you train hard and still move like an old man the next day, this will change your life.

3. Energy Levels Through the Roof

Forget strong coffee. Nothing wakes you up like sitting in freezing water at stupid o'clock in the morning. Sounds grim, but within minutes, you're sharp, alert, and ready to take on the world. Or at least the emails you've been dodging. I used to fade out by 2 pm, but since the ice bath came in, I have been full of energy all day.

4. Mood and Mental Health Improved

I didn't expect this, but after a few weeks, I realised I felt calmer. Less stress, less random irritation, and I wasn't constantly fighting the urge to launch my laptop across the room. Science backs this up too. Cold exposure releases a hit of dopamine and reduces cortisol, which means you feel better, and other people annoy you slightly less. Win-win.

5. Saved Money

Since I started the ice baths, I hardly feel the cold for the rest of the day. After plunging into near-freezing water first thing, your body's internal thermostat just kicks into overdrive. I'm not saying I'm walking around in shorts in winter, but I do feel warmer without cranking up the heating, so the gas bill is down, and this alone should be a good enough reason for any Yorkshireman to give it a go.

It's been a great experience, and I will be keeping it going; the benefits are just too great not to, but before I go, I want to share the biggest buzz I got from this challenge.

That week in January when we had some sub-zero temps, and I had to smash the ice with a hammer to get in the bath for 4 days on the trot. Getting in on those days made me feel like a Viking warrior, and me and my ego liked that feeling. We liked it a lot.

You can get one of these baths up for less than 50 quid on Amazon, and I guarantee that if you give it a go, push through any thoughts of it being "silly" and stick with it, you will see some huge differences to your resilience, mental health and mood, and that will make it one of the best 50 quids you will ever have ever spent.

Take Care

GB