Why dunking your face helps your brain & Book #5 News!

Sep 05, 2025 8:37 pm

Hi friends,

(Please use the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this email - clicking "Spam" gives me a black mark with Gmail. Thanks!!)

Just one month to go! Book 5 of Shieldwall Academy, Imperial Chaos, launches Oct. 3rd in audiobook, ebook, and paperback. Woohoo!

Imperial Chaos - Book #5!

I’ll also try to set up a sale for books 1–4 to celebrate the release, but since I just ran one at the end of August, Amazon might not let me schedule another so soon. (Fingers crossed!)

For my ARC team: the ARC of Imperial Chaos should hit your inbox in about a week.

If you didn't know, ARC (Advanced Review Copy) readers get the book for free ahead of release and do their best to post a review one week before launch.

If you already have review privileges on Amazon (they require at least $50/year spent on their site) and want to join my ARC team, just hit reply to this email and I’ll add you.

Now, I’ve got a fascinating mental health tip for you today. It that takes less than a minute and can actually reset your nervous system when anxiety or stress hits. Scroll down for that after clicking to see a few of this week’s sponsored books!

_____

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Mental Health Tip 15: The 30-Second Cold Water Reset

Ever feel like your brain is running a million miles an hour and you just can’t shut it off?

Here’s a trick that works faster than meditation or deep breathing. And it’s a simple as using your kitchen sink.

If you dunk your face in cold water for 20–30 seconds, your body flips on the dive reflex. It's a natural built-in reset switch. It slows your heart rate, calms your nervous system, and signals to your body that you’re safe.

Very cool idea, right?

How to do it:

Fill a bowl or sink with cold water (ice water works best).
Submerge your face for 20–30 seconds.
If dunking your whole face isn’t possible, even splashing cold water over your cheeks and around your eyes can help.

Why it works: This activates the vagus nerve, which flips your body from fight-or-flight mode into a calmer, more regulated state.

It’s quick, free, and a surprisingly powerful trick to have in your back pocket when anxiety spikes or you just need a fast mental reset.