The Best Reason To Start A Cold Shower Habit
We’ve heard about the long term benefits. But one immediate benefit might finally convince you. Especially in wintertime.
By now, you’ve probably heard about the benefits of cold showers for several years. Maybe you’ve seen videos about the Iceman, Wim Hof. Perhaps you even dabbled with cold water at some point.
Indeed Wim Hof and friends spread the good word about the long term benefits of cold exposure. But this article will introduce one major selling point the cold shower crowd has missed — the immediate benefit.
Let’s dive in!
The Long Term Benefits of Cold Showers
The classic list of cold exposure benefits includes improvements to both physical to psychological health. A cold shower habit can:
- improve cardiovascular circulation.
- improve recovery process of the human body and reduced muscle inflammation.
- increase density of brown fat, aka, brown adipose tissue (BAT).
- increase metabolism, maintain leanness, and normalize blood sugar via increased cellular thermogenesis.
- improve adversity quotient (AQ) aka, the ability to endure and excel at difficult tasks.
- Brag to friends if so inclined.
That said, there’s one additional benefit of cold showers thus far unrecognized.
The Immediate Benefits of a Cold Shower
In my opinion, this might be a more effective selling point of cold showers. Why? Simple. Because unlike long term benefits, everyone likes immediate gratification. Here it is:
- Cold showers make it easier to get out of the shower during winter.
That’s right. Every other clinical and anecdotal benefit of a cold shower habit requires consistency. One must make cold showers a daily habit if the long term benefits are desired.
But let’s face it, cold showers kinda suck. We’d much rather just take a hot shower, right?
Cold showers suck? But getting out of a hot shower in winter sucks more.
What About The Hygge?!
The coziness — the hygge — of a hot shower in winter is outstanding.
Until it’s completely ruined.
The instant you turn off the water, the icy fingers of cold air immediately hit your spine.
Opening the shower door pelts us with icicles of wintery air!
Winter Is Coming
There may be nothing worse than getting out of a hot shower in winter. It’s like a part of us is fated to die. And we’re the executioner. But it isn’t quick. And the worst part is we know the end is nigh. It’s a cousin of the Sunday Blues.
Anecdotally I feel like there’s been days when I’ve felt that cold across my shoulders from the moment I left the hot shower all day long until the moment I got back in.
On the other hand, if the last minute of your shower is ice cold, getting out is easy — a complete non-issue. Why?
Because the cold shower acclimated you to the cold air.
In reality, we’re talking about trading short term discomfort, for short term discomfort.
Except unlike the cold bathroom, cold showers come with all those long term benefits we mentioned!
And imagine being completely immune to a cold winter bathroom. Like invisible body armor against the slings and arrows of life.
How to do ‘The Cold Shower Finish’ technique (Not from Finland)
This is the technique I used to maintain a daily cold shower habit going on several years. It’s super easy, and I call it ‘the cold shower finish.’
- Take your normal hot shower. Make it as hot and long as you like. Make it uncomfortably hot if need-be. Because…
- Before you are finished, you gotta turn the water to cold. The first shock is a jolt, but it only lasts a moment.
- Try to hit all four sides. Put your face in it. The most important thing is just do it. Be present. Feel what Wim Hof calls, “the power of the cold.” There’s no escaping it, but in time you’ll build up a tolerance to the cold. I consider that tolerance proof I’m gaining those aforementioned long term benefits.
- This is just me, but I say the serenity prayer under the cold water. I do this to acknowledge that I can’t control the cold, or my body’s reaction to it, as well as my past as a drinker. Yet I do control my decision to get cold, and my attitude about it. I’m also reminded of the wisdom behind sacrificing very short term discomfort for long term benefits (you’re about to step out into the cold bathroom anyway!). It’s worth noting that adding a spiritual element or meaning to a cold shower (or any unavoidable unpleasant fact) embodies Viktor Frankl’s philosophy, “He who has a why to live, can bear any how.”
- Congrats! You did it. Open the shower door happy that it’s over, and happy that the cold doesn’t bother you. Enjoy feelings of pride, health, and toughness.
A moment under the cold water can change everything.
If you enjoyed this article, you may enjoy my other articles on health hacks. My goal always, is fresh, well-conceived, and authentic observations.
Feel free to comment/ clap/ share — and Thanks for reading!
