I did cold plunges at home for a week. I felt energized and my muscles were less sore, but it wasn’t worth it.

After speaking with a doctor, the benefits sounded really appealing.

Whenever I saw a photo or video of someone about to enter a freezing-cold bathtub, I wondered why they’d endured such an activity. The art of cold plunging seemed downright painful to me.

But according to Dr. Laura Purdy, a family medicine physician, cold-water immersion has some pretty attractive health benefits.

“If you repeatedly expose yourself to a stressor — such as cold water — in an intentional and structured way, over time, your body will create a positive response to stressors,” the doctor said.

These positive responses can include relieving joint pain, reducing inflammation, aiding post-workout recovery, decreasing stress, increasing energy, boosting mood, and improving mental clarity.

That all sounded great, but because this was my first time in an ice bath, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to last in the tub.

The doctor said the frequency and length of a cold plunge can be left up to individual preferences. But if you’re just starting, she highly recommended building a tolerance before diving right in.