The benefits of plunging your body into a cold body of water are well-documented: increased blood flow, lower stress, and improved sleep quality. But it’s still a quite scary thing to do – which is why Austin has made a group tradition of it the last 30 years, so you don’t have to go in alone. At 9:30am on New Year’s Day, the community will jump into Barton Springs together, washing off the old year and gaining a burst of energy and calm for the new one. Ground yourself in your physical body – and remind yourself of the real community all around you – to start 2026 off right. – Lina Fisher
