The Mental Strength of Freedivers

The Mental Fortitude Behind Freediving

Free diving, an extreme sport in which an individual plunges to depths of sea without any breathing apparatus at all, is simply breathtaking. Legends such as Herbert Nitsch and Mirela Kardasevic have amazed the world by diving down to depths of over 200m and remaining submerged for several minutes. One seasoned freediver shared his take on the psychological side of it all on Reddit.

Mind Over Matter

Mind Over Matter

In a Reddit thread on freediving stories, a skilled freediver weighed with some wisdom about the psychological aspects of freediving. He made clear that the real problem in freediving is when panic takes over at about 160 ft. Here, mental toughness comes into action. With freediving, it’s all about talking yourself into believing you can handle it, even when your mind is close to panic. He emphasized the mental toughness that it demands out of you in order to perfect this sport.

Conserving Energy and Air

The user also delved into the practical aspects of freediving. He shared insights on conserving energy and maintaining air intake, which is critical for a successful dive. He noted that a slow ascent is common in freediving in order to save energy and air. Since freedivers don’t breathe compressed air, they intake less nitrogen, reducing the risk of complications like decompression sickness. However, he cautioned against surfacing too quickly, as it can lead to problems with surface pressure gradients and oxygen balance, potentially causing loss of consciousness.

Safety First

Freediving is exhilarating, but it comes with risks. The Reddit user emphasized the importance of never freediving alone. He recounted a personal experience in which he found himself in trouble at a depth of 20 meters while photographing an octopus. Miraculously, the wind revived him at the surface, preventing a tragic outcome. This experience underscores the critical role of safety measures and the need for vigilant companions to ensure a safe return from the mesmerizing world of freediving.

Here Are Five Tips for Enjoying the Holidays With the Family

Spending the holidays with the family is fun, but family members often clash with each other due to conflicting opinions or something else. Despite that, there are ways one can use to get what they want from the holiday while maintaining the peace at the table. Here are five tips for enjoyably getting through the holidays.

1. Discussing the Plan for the Holidays With the Family Will Set the Same Expectations for Everyone

Family during the holidays Communication between the members of the extended family before the holidays will manage everyone’s expectations seamlessly, resulting in the reduced possibility for guilt and conflict. Planning how to chill out and have a good time with the family will help everyone escape from the exhausting parts of everyday life.

2. Considering the Dietary Needs of Everyone Is Crucial for Enjoying Great Holidays

Holiday food During any holiday, everyone should be able to get food that meets their specific dietary needs. This way, every participant will be able to enjoy the holidays without having to make compromises. People can also bring their own food to share with others.

3. Over-Communication About Personal Problems Is Something People Should Avoid

Family having fun during the holidays Some people tend to share personal information during the holidays, and that can annoy other members of the family. A good way to avoid such situations is to share important details about the needs of every family member beforehand.

4. Family Members Should Avoid Focusing On Their Differences

A family toast during the holidays Sensitive discussions during family gatherings tend to erupt out of the blue, and most people would be glad to avoid those. In such cases, people should aim to agree to disagree and search for common ground, like the lovely pies someone in the family makes.

5. The Host Shouldn’t Be Doing It All

Guests helping with cooking and cleaning Everyone should offer their help to the hosts of a family gathering to give them the opportunity to delegate some of the tasks related to keeping the party going to others. This way, everything will go smoother, and everyone will be able to enjoy themselves to the fullest. Guests can easily help with minor tasks like cleaning, shopping, or even cooking, and that will leave the hosts to handle more pressing matters.