Have you ever heard of the health benefits of cold showers? Go here for all the benefits.

What about the health benefits to using the sauna? Here’s a great article.  I’m going to make an observation: maybe a bit of a leap. We know overall health is declining in our nation, it’s outrageous. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, on and on, all are on the rise. Here’s what else I see: modern living and modern comforts increasing. Hmmm.

When it comes specifically to this example of health benefits with a temperature flux from cold showers to hot saunas, what are most of us accustomed to? 72 degrees.

Our house, our work, our car, the school.

I’m not off my rocker here. I’m also in no way suggesting that the fact that we’ve been less accustomed to adapt to temperature alone is the sole cause for the fall of our health, but my point is that something doesn’t add up when we attempt to live in a state of increasing comfort while decreasing challenge.

We don’t have to go anywhere anymore! Work from home, shop from home, have your groceries delivered. If, heaven forbid, you do have to leave your home, enjoy your ride in a temperature controlled car (that may someday be programmed to be technologically obsolete (like your smartphone) in a few years) for the commute in comfort at 72 degrees.

Hmmm. So, what’s my point? I think we need to be challenged a bit more – in a healthy way.

Ask yourself: Do the healthiest people I know exercise? Do they push themselves? Do they make their own meals, or push a button on the microwave? Do they work hard to keep their mindset clean and on-purpose? Do they read books? Do they challenge themselves to become better? Have they even failed more than others that may be less healthy?

We’ve got to be challenged!

Go take a cold shower! You’ll freeze, but you’ll also feel invigorated! Go for a walk, longer than usual. Go sit in a sauna or sweat out all kinds of crazy in a hot yoga class. Learn how to cook a healthy meal with ingredients you have to search for in a health food store. It WILL taste weird, but your taste buds will change, and your health will increase!

Challenge yourself. Invigorate your life and become a healthy crazy person to the perception of the less healthy “normal” 72 degrees people. You’ll thank me for it! 😊