Why I Take a Cold Shower Every Morning

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I have been enduring cold showers for over a year now. Of the numerous benefits I’ve noticed are better skin, improved circulation, and less stress at work.

In this post, I’ll tell you how I overcame my lesser self to get under that frigid water each morning and how you can do the same.

How Cold Is a Cold Shower?

There are two schools of thought as to what constitutes a cold shower.

One is that the water need only feel uncomfortably cool. The other is that the temperature should be below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).

Thermometers that attach to the shower system are available, but I’ve never bothered with them. I shower as cold as the tap will serve, which I figure must be cold enough.

My Previous Experience With Cold Water

As a teenager, I knew that if I wanted to swim in the cold sea, I’d have to immerse myself without delay. So I’d wade out to about waist depth, then lurch forward and take the plunge.

Getting the shock over with quickly allowed my body to acclimatize to the low temperature within a matter of seconds.

Then there was the phenomenon of the ice bath at our local sports center, which I’d climb into directly after a sauna. In spite of ice clumps floating around, I found it strangely enjoyable, and it left me exhilarated.

But this all changed.

I haven’t attempted to swim in the sea since my early twenties. And although I’ve been to the sauna a few times during adulthood, I’ve avoided the ice bath.

Following a thrombosis of my lower left leg in 2017, doctors advised me to direct cold water at my calf when taking a shower. Not once did I try it.

I’d obviously become far too comfortable.

How I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone

It was a YouTube influencer. I don’t remember his name because I watch so many. But he got me thinking.

On the subject of cold showers, he said that in order to maintain the body’s core temperature, brown fat generates heat when exposed to the cold, thus burning calories. This, apparently, could reduce waist circumference.

I don’t exactly have a beer gut, but I do have a slight paunch. Luckily, it’s not too noticeable beneath clothing. With light exercise and a healthy diet, I keep it in check. But I wondered if cold showers might help me lose it completely.

Having done a little research of my own, I eventually decided to give it a try.

Getting Started

I began during the summer when I was showering lukewarm, anyway. This meant that easing myself into truly cold water wouldn’t take as long. I think it would have been much more difficult had I started in winter.

On the first day, I showered for the most part warm but finished uncomfortably cool. I could see from the dial that this was nowhere near the coldest setting.

Each day thereafter, I turned the temperature down a little more.

After five days, I managed the coldest setting, sustaining it for about 20 seconds.

I got out of the shower in a state of elation, determined never to bother with warm water again.

My Cold Shower Routine

This is how I’ve been showering ever since:

1. Upon entering the shower, I turn on the cold tap and direct the water at my back, which is the most cold-sensitive area of my body. This gets the shock over with quickly—remember the story of how I swam in the cold sea as a teenager? Slow, deep breathing can help at this stage.
2. Once thoroughly wet, I turn the water off and soap myself down.
3. I then rinse away the lather before standing beneath the icy spikes for as long as I can. Apparently, a cold shower need only be applied from the shoulders down, but I like to include my head. During this time, I floss my teeth with an oral douche, which takes my mind off the discomfort.
4. Stepping out of the shower, my skin is pink, but I don’t feel cold.

As you’ve no doubt gathered, it is not a pleasant experience. But the exhilaration that follows makes it worthwhile.

This exuberance is a result of shock, which increases both oxygen intake and heart rate.

By the way, I now have a cold shave before stepping into the shower, which I regard as a sort of “warmup.”

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Benefits I’ve Noticed Since Showering Cold

The medical profession is undecided on many of the alleged benefits of cold showers, but here are those I’ve noticed.

Mental

• I’ve never been a morning person, but since introducing cold showers into my routine, I leave for the office raring to go, believing I’m capable of anything.
• I’m more focused and alert, which automatically hikes up productivity.
• I’m calmer. I work methodically and steadily without feeling stressed, even when under pressure. Nothing seems to faze me.

There are two factors at play here. Firstly, cold water stimulates the release of endorphins (“happy hormones”), which lift mood and buffer from stress and subsequent anxiety. Secondly, forcing myself to endure discomfort sets me up for the day, hence the “I can do anything” attitude. In other words, it gives me a sense of accomplishment before I’ve even left the house.

If you’re prone to a negative mindset, cold showering could be of huge benefit.

Physical

Healthy-Looking Skin

When subjected to the cold, the body retains its core temperature by increasing circulation. This mechanism primarily involves the constriction of blood vessels for more forceful blood flow. As a result, the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells, extremities, and organs becomes more efficient.

This is why my skin appears pink after a cold shower.

Of course, it soon fades. But my complexion has generally improved; my face has a tighter, fresher appearance due to smaller pores.

Thicker Hair

My mustache is thicker and more luxuriant. If I had hair on my head, I’d probably see a difference there, too.

This is because better circulation helps to nourish the root cells. But cold water also closes the cuticle to lock in moisture, leaving the hair of the face and head smooth and shiny.

A Greater Sense of Well-Being

Improved cardiovascular health is a further side effect of good circulation. This, I think, is mainly responsible for my greater sense of well-being.

A Strengthened Immune System

Finally, increased blood flow causes the immune system to work more efficiently. This is because white blood cells are able to mobilize more readily in case of infection.

I haven’t had a cold in over a year.

Muscle Recovery

Devised only to keep me trim, my exercise routine is very light and has never caused real muscle soreness. Therefore, I can’t speak from experience on this.

But for those who prefer a more vigorous workout, I’ve learned that cold temperatures can lead to faster recovery.

This is why athletes often favor the ice tub.

Cold and freezing temperatures aid in the removal of waste products, including lactic acid, which is said to be partly responsible for soreness.

Furthermore, cold water reduces inflammation. Therefore, the microdamage necessary to build muscle heals more quickly.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

Which Soap for Cold Showers?

Unfortunately, my bar soap didn’t lather in cold water. My soap-free wash lotion wasn’t a lot better, and I’m not a fan of shower gel.

But I found a solid curd soap called Dalli, which is available online.

It smells clean rather than perfumed and gives a great lather. Being superfatted (a term used in soap making), it leaves the skin feeling smooth and supple. It’s also suitable for the face and hair.

If you know of another bar soap that lathers well in cold water, let me know in the comments.

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