The Power of Cold: How the Winter Rituals of Robbins, Goff, and Dorsey Relieve Stress and Boost Productivity

For renowned entrepreneurs, thinkers, and opinion leaders, winter is not just about cold and short days, but an opportunity to manage stress, maintain focus, and inner balance. For some, it's a challenge in the form of icy water; for others, warmth and silence; for still others, discipline and repetitive habits. Regardless of the approach, all these practices serve one function: they help manage one's state rather than reacting to circumstances automatically. LIGA.net has collected the most interesting winter rituals of successful people and explains how they work in practice.Wim Hof: Cold as a System, Not a ChallengeDutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, known as the "Ice Man," transformed the cold into a holistic philosophy of life. Unlike entrepreneurs for whom ice baths are just a tool, for Hof, it is a basic practice combined with breathing techniques and mindfulness.His winter rituals include regular plunges into icy water, exposure to freezing temperatures with minimal protection, and breath control in extreme conditions. Hof claims that this practice allows one to consciously influence the reactions of the autonomic nervous system – particularly stress and inflammatory processes.Unlike motivational approaches, his method is systemic: cold is not used to "boost spirits," but as a way to establish a deeper connection with the body. That is why his practices are often seen not as a lifestyle, but as a form of mindfulness and endurance training.Tony Robbins: Cold as a Way to "Turn Off Panic"American writer, entrepreneur Tony Robbins For decades, he has used cold baths as part of his morning routine. It's not just about hardening the body, but about working with the nervous system, increasing energy, and mental resilience. The sudden cold causes a natural stress response – rapid breathing, muscle tension, and the urge to "flee." The main task, according to Robbins, is not to fight this, but to learn to manage the reaction.He plunges into icy water immediately after waking up to "shift the body from survival mode to control mode." Robbins has repeatedly emphasized that the key is not heroism, but focusing on breathing and mindfulness. He considers this skill – remaining calm in physical discomfort – to be universal and transferable to business negotiations, public speaking, and crisis decisions.At the same time, he emphasizes the accessibility of the method: it can be a cold shower or a brief dousing, not necessarily a full-fledged ice bath.Tim Ferriss: Rituals as a Way to Reduce Decision FatigueAmerican entrepreneur and popular writerTim Ferriss has long been saying that exhaustion is often caused not by the load, but by an excess of decisions. That's why rituals are a way for him to relieve the brain of small but constant cognitive costs.In winter, his focus is on sleep quality. Ferris has experimented with various methods for many years – from nootropics to dietary changes – and has ultimately kept only what truly works for him. In the evening, he follows a repetitive routine: an hour before bed, he drinks caffeine-free herbal tea with added apple cider vinegar and honey if he has trouble falling asleep.The second element is temperature contrast. Ferris uses an ice bath or sauna to influence the body's thermoregulation. A drop in body temperature after cold water or heat, he says, makes it easier to transition into a deep sleep phase. During these procedures, he listens to audiobooks, after which he tries not to use screens.According to Ferris, cold is not a challenge or an end in itself, but a tool for stabilizing biorhythms.Jack Dorsey: Testing the Strength of IntentAmerican billionaire, philanthropist, and founder of Twitter Jack Dorsey known for his ascetic approach to life. For him, a morning dip in cold water is more of a psychological ritual than a health procedure. Dorsey combines it with other practices, including sauna, meditation, and long walks. He does not hide that the cold is unpleasant, but it is this discomfort that is of fundamental importance.Dorsey refers to this as training his willpower: if he manages to do something he doesn't want to do in the morning, he feels a sense of inner composure. In addition to this, he goes for daily runs – he often runs to and from work – and practices regular meditation. Even on busy days, he tries to set aside at least 10 minutes of silence.His winter rituals are built on repetition and minimalism – without complex systems or unnecessary stimuli.Oprah Winfrey: Winter as a Time of Inner WarmthAmerican TV host Oprah Winfrey is one of those who demonstrates that mental strength is formed not only through extreme methods but also through regular self-care. In winter, her rituals are especially focused on creating inner warmth and stability when the outside world becomes cold and less predictable.Her morning practices begin with meditationsOprah spends 20-30 minutes each day in silence and focusing on her breath, which helps to "clear" her mind and set her up for the day. During meditation, she often uses gratitude techniques: she writes down in a diary Three things she is grateful for, she says, lift her mood and reduce stress.During the winter months, Oprah also incorporates moderate physical activity: outdoor walks, light exercises, or yoga. She emphasizes that regularity is more important than intensity: even 15–20 minutes of movement every day positively affects energy and mental state.Another key element is inner warmth through comfort rituals. This could be warm drinks, aromatherapy, warm blankets, or simply time alone without phones and external stimuli. Oprah often emphasizes that the winter season is a time for rebooting and recharging, not a productivity race.Her approach reminds us that mental resilience can be built not only through "endurance in discomfort," as in Robbins or Goff, but also through caring for inner balance and emotional warmth.It is important not to simply copy other people's habits, but to understand the principle behind them. It is formed through regular actions that give a sense of control over the body and attention. It can be a short cold shower, ten minutes of silence without a phone, an evening walk or a stable sleep schedule. The main thing is to choose those practices that help you return to a state of calm and concentration.Read alsoBillionaires who want to defeat aging: a scientist debunks the three main myths of biohacking

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