Why I Dunk My Face in Ice Water Every Morning (and Why You Might Want to, Too)
- kate7760
- May 6
- 2 min read
A 1-minute ritual for hormone balance, nervous system support, and that natural midlife glow
I was doing fine—until perimenopause hit.
Suddenly, what used to work… didn’t.I was exhausted but wired, puffy, anxious, and foggy.As a midlife woman and entrepreneur, I found myself showing up for everyone else—but I didn’t feel like me anymore.
That’s when I stopped chasing trends and started building a system that supported my nervous system from the inside out.
One of the simplest, most powerful tools I’ve added to my daily routine?The cold face plunge.
🌿 What Is a Cold Face Plunge?
It’s exactly what it sounds like:You submerge your face in a bowl of cold water (ice optional) for about 15 seconds, several times in a row. I personally do this every morning—four rounds of 15 seconds. That’s it. One minute total.
This activates your mammalian dive reflex, a built-in biological response that slows your heart rate, lowers cortisol, and flips the switch from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest mode.
🔄 Why I Do It
For women in perimenopause and menopause, your nervous system becomes extra sensitive.Your cortisol levels are harder to manage. Sleep gets disrupted. Energy tanks. And your usual go-to routines (like high-intensity workouts or full-body ice plunges) can actually make it worse by spiking stress hormones.
That’s why I replaced extreme with intentional.
The cold face plunge gives me:
🌬️ Nervous system regulation (less anxiety, less overwhelm)
🧠 Mental clarity (goodbye brain fog)
💓 Lowered heart rate and cortisol
🔄 Stimulated Vagus nerve, which is your body’s “calm switch”
💧 Tighter pores + de-puffed skin
✨ Better circulation for that natural glow
And the best part? It’s free, fast, and completely doable—even if you’re not a “wellness person.”
☀️ How It Fits Into My Morning Routine
I stack my cold face plunge with other habits that lower stress and support hormone balance:
Sunlight + gratitude journaling
Protein before caffeine
30-minute walk
No sugar + no eating after 4PM (my “upside-down” intermittent fasting)
Supplements: ketones, organ meats, and key vitamins
This isn’t just about feeling better.It’s about creating sustainable energy, emotional stability, and clear focus—so I can lead, create, and show up as me in this season of life.
💙 Why It Matters
As midlife women, we’re often told to “push through.”But pushing through is what got many of us here—burned out, bloated, and barely holding on.
Regulating your nervous system isn’t a luxury.It’s a strategy. For health. For aging well. For showing up in your business, your family, and your life.
So if you’ve been feeling off, on edge, or out of sync—try the cold face plunge.One minute. Big shift.
Your body knows how to heal. Sometimes, it just needs the right signal.
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