I’m getting into cold water swimming and struggling more with the mental side than the physical. The initial shock is brutal, and it’s hard to convince myself to stay in even for short durations.Any seasoned cold water swimmers have tips for building mental toughness? I’ve tried focusing on my breath, but sometimes my mind just races with thoughts of how cold I am and how much I want to get out.
Are there specific mental exercises or visualization techniques that people find helpful? Or is it just a matter of consistent exposure and gradually increasing the time in the water, essentially desensitizing yourself? I’m also curious if anyone has found that certain types of meditation or mindfulness practices outside of the water have translated into better mental resilience while swimming in the cold. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I’m aiming for short swims in water around 10-12 degrees Celsius.