The Ebb and Flow of Ducktober - How to Stay Committed
Joel Pilgrim and Dean Gladstone participating in Ducktober, 2021
Words: Fred Murray
Day one was amazing, day two was even better! But as the days go on you may begin to question whether you can make it to the end of Ducktober. 20 days (or even a month) of cold water sounded easy but 20 days of doing anything can feel like a grind at the best of times. Don’t be mistaken, Waves of Wellness (WOW) is here to help you every step of the way, so here are some tips and tricks to help you get through some of the more challenging days of Ducktober!
Don't think of the act, think of the reward
Besides contributing to an amazing cause, cold water therapy is also incredible for your own physical and mental health. Often forgotten is the inimitable feeling of clarity and exhilaration experienced after undertaking cold water therapy. Unlike most challenges the reward of this daunting process is gifted instantly. This mindset will best prepare you for your daily battles with sub zero temperatures in the early hours of the morning. Ducktober itself is really an opportunity to not only help those vulnerable in the community, but allow you to better understand your own emotions and mindfulness.
Life is easier in pairs
Committing to ice baths, early morning swims or straight up freezing cold showers is a feat no one should take on alone. When facing the harsh challenges of freezing cold temperatures finding a Ducktober buddy is essential. This buddy can come in very different forms, they don't have to be completing Ducktober with you, they don't have to be screaming in your face telling you to keep going, they don't even have to know they're your Ducktober buddy. Although building a team is extremely effective in terms of keeping you on track/accountable, a Ducktober buddy is simply someone who you can debrief with about how the session went and how you are going, typically in the harder moments.
Set aside some time
As humans we like to be prepared, this being the case, setting aside a regular time to participate in Ducktober allows for essential mental groundwork. Morning or night you have to give your body the time to understand what it is about to encounter. Participating in Ducktober at the same time each day will effectively provide you with a routine in which a mental schedule can form providing rational preparation time for each challenge.
It's time to make some rules
Often people associate rules with discipline and order and they are not wrong, however the definition of discipline and order can vary depending on the rules. So how about you stay strict on these few:
After each Duck a coffee and a treat must be consumed in order to maintain sanity levels.
For each hour taken off regulatory sleeping time during the week as a result of Ducktober, an hour must be put back on during a compulsory sleep-in on Sunday.
A daily self-congratulation session is non-negotiable during each day of Ducktober. This is usually done in the company of friends and family, this cannot be overdone.
Yes, strict rules are important like not snoozing or not letting yourself find excuses, however the overlooked rules are the ones that give back to ourselves. Sometimes we need something a little extra to get us out of bed in the morning or to plunge into freezing water and that is exactly what these rules are all about.
Keep moving forward and don't forget why you are doing this, you are a part of a massive team effort and don’t forget you are AMAZING!
You can sign up or donate to Ducktober 2022 here.