I just logged Dip 252 in Lake Ontario. That’s a picture of a friend and I post-dip in the middle of January with a -35 degree wind chill factor!

I had seen cold dippers dotting the shores of Lake Ontario walking my dog in the early morning, and had absolutely no inclination to ever join them. In fact, I had serious concerns about anyone who would willingly stay in cold water, especially when there was snow and ice on the ground.

When I did my first dip with a group of friends as part of a large community event in November 2002, I thought. “Ah, I’ll try anything once!”.

No one could be more surprised than I was to discover I wanted to do it again. And again, and again.

A fellow dipper asked me recently if I would be dipping again the next day. Without hesitation, I said “Of course.” I realized at that moment the decision I made to dip in the lake has become such an important part of my day there was never a doubt I would show up.

“Decision” originates from the Latin word decidere, which means to “cut off” everything else. How to become a more effective decision-maker is a big topic of conversation in a number of client discussions recently. With so much coming at us in terms of information, distractions, and demands it’s imperative we get better at making them so we can navigate and adapt to the changing world around us.

Making a decision stick is often challenging. Here are some of the common pitfalls I see people make, and what I’ve learned through my experience with cold dipping that could help you strengthen your decision-making muscle. (Don’t worry – cold dipping is not a prerequisite!)

Pitfall #1 Not Committing Time in Your Calendar

“Tomorrow I’ll have more time, so I’ll do it then.”

It’s rare that a person suddenly finds themself in the middle of the day with unexpected free time. Taking on new choices requires more than good intention. It needs to be put in your calendar, or paired with an existing routine you have.

I started by setting a goal of dipping 2-3 times a week. Within a few weeks, I shifted to 5-6 times a week. By January I shifted to cold dipping every day. Putting it on the calendar reinforced my decision. It also showed my brain that was trying to find loopholes and ways of getting out of it that I could be productive at work AND start my day with a cold plunge. In fact, I found that the mental clarity and focus I got from cold dipping were having positive impacts on how I approached my work.

Set yourself up for success by using structures – calendars, accountability buddies, reminders – to help you realize your decision.

Pitfall #2 Waiting Until You Feel Like It

I didn’t feel like it, so I didn’t do it.

Making a decision that requires you to make different choices is likely to make you feel uncomfortable, inept or reluctant. But taking actions based on how you feel from one moment to the next will leave you swinging from one emotion to the next, and make it hard to make any meaningful progress.

Standing on the edge of the lake in the middle of a snowstorm, I certainly didn’t “feel” like going into the water. My amygdala was screaming at me to run back home and crawl into a warm bed! Navigating that resistance – mental and physical – each and every time became something I could master. I knew I would be uncomfortable and developed ways to move to the other side of it.

I dipped with buddies. I would focus on my breath. I would look at the horizon and marvel at the beauty in the sky. I remembered how wonderful I felt the day before and the sustained energy and mental clarity I felt. Eventually I learned to meet the discomfort. My experience of meeting the water day in and day out taught me I could do things that my mind told me I couldn’t.

The choices you make in moments of discomfort reveal strengths and wisdom you never realize you had.

Pitfall #3 Renegotiating The Decision

“Maybe I should. Or maybe I shouldn’t. I’ll put it off until later.”

As the wise leadership development guru, Yoda, says “Do or do not. There is no try.”

A lot of us get caught up in renegotiating, or re-litigating, the “decision” we made. Questioning, renegotiating, reshaping, developing exceptions to a decision can be exhausting.

When I started dipping, I certainly questioned my decision more than a few times. I started dipping with others, and having that accountability helped solidify my commitment. Experiencing the water multiple times calmed my mind that had kicked up a lot of resistance to the shock of the cold. Expecting mind chatter and simply saying “Thanks for your concern! I’ll get right back to you after I get out of the water!” defused the inner debate I was having.

If you find yourself doing a mental sparring match with yourself, take a breath and hit the pause button. Is there something underlying your decision that needs to be addressed first? Create support structures like a partner or accountability buddy to help you. Expect resistance to show up and develop strategies to move through it anyway.

Are you looking to up level your leadership and decision-making skills? I offer executive coaching for seasoned and emerging leaders who are looking to navigate change and amplify their impact and influence. You can learn more here.