Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “A cold shower? In the morning? No thanks!”
But hear us out. While the idea of stepping into a cold running shower first thing might sound like a form of medieval torture, it actually comes with a pile of benefits that can set you up for an amazing day.
So, take a deep breath, muster up some courage, and take the plunge. Here’s why we reckon taking a cold shower in the morning is worth trying out for yourself.
a cold shower acts as an instant wake up call
Forget your morning coffee—nothing wakes you up quite like a blast of cold water. The shock to your system can be invigorating as it gets your heart pumping and makes you instantly feel more alert. It’s a bit like nature’s way of slapping you in the face and saying, “Hey, it’s time to wake up!”
Plus, a quick, cold shower can help you to shake off any lingering grogginess or sleepiness. It’s essentially a great way to get you ready to tackle the day head-on.
it can boost your mood and energy levels
Cold showers aren’t just for waking up your body—they can also wake up your mind. Cold water triggers the release of endorphins, those magical feel-good hormones that can lift your mood and boost your energy levels. Starting your day with a cold shower can leave you feeling more positive, energetic, and ready to face whatever comes your way.
fancy improving your circulation?
When you take a cold shower, your body works hard to maintain its core temperature. And this effectively boosts circulation. Having an improved blood flow can help with muscle recovery and it reduces inflammation, making it easy to understand why cold showers are so popular amongst athletes. But even if you’re not training for a marathon, better circulation is good for your overall health and can give your skin a healthy glow.
what about enhancing your immune system?
Believe it or not, having a cold shower in the morning (or cold showers in general, really) can actually strengthen your immune system. In regularly exposing your body to cold water, you can increase the number of white blood cells inside it. And these are our own personal army when it’s time to fight off illnesses. Think of taking a cold shower as rather like giving your immune system a little workout every morning, helping to keep you healthier in the long run.
it could even increase your willpower and resilience
I think we can all admit that taking a cold shower is not easy. It takes a certain amount of willpower and mental toughness to embrace that wall of cold water, especially if it’s a cold morning. But doing it on a regular basis may help build your mental resilience too. If you can conquer a cold shower, you can conquer anything. Or so they say…
healthier skin and hair anyone?
Sorry hot shower fans, fair warning: we’re about to burst your bubble! Hot showers can strip your skin and hair of their natural oils. What ensues is dryness and irritation. You know that bird’s nest you detest having to tame day after day, that could be in part down to those hot showers you love so much!
Cold showers, on the other hand, can help to tighten your pores and flatten your cuticles, leaving both your skin and hair looking healthier. They also help improve blood flow to your skin, giving you that fresh, just-got-out-of-the-shower glow without the drying effects of hot water.
did we touch on the faster muscle recovery benefits yet?
Yes, we did mention this earlier. But we felt it deserved to be listed as a cold shower benefit in its own right!
Have you’ve ever seen an athlete taking an ice bath? If yes, you already know that cold water is great for muscle recovery. While you don’t need to go to that extreme, a cold shower can help to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation quickly and effectively. It’s an easy way to help your muscles recover, especially if you’ve had an intense workout the day before.
cold showers: our conclusion
So, there you have it; a whole bunch of reasons to make cold showers a part of your morning routine. From boosting your mood and energy to improving circulation and skin health, the benefits boast something for everyone!
It might take a little getting used to, – and that’s perfectly okay – but once you do, you might find that a cold shower is the perfect way to kickstart your day. So, why not give it a try tomorrow morning? You might just find yourself looking forward to that icy wake-up call!
Nifty tip: If you’re not brave enough to turn the temp right down right away, move it down a notch with each shower and ease into it one day at a time!
Until next time, eve sleep.