Cold Showers: Why I Love Them
Feb 2, 2023 · 3 min read
What are cold showers?
I have a confession to make. I am in love with cold showers.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, “This guy’s gotta be nuts, cold showers suck.” Well, you can put your thoughts to rest because I assure you one of those assumptions is false. Cold showers rock.
I first read about the benefits of cold showering in Anna Lembke’s book Dopamine Nation when I decided to try it for myself. For the past few weeks, I have been taking at least one 60 second, hot-to-cold shower and it’s been great. Hot-to-cold showering simply means taking a regular warm shower at first, then switching to as cold as your shower can go for 60 seconds right before you exit. The results are phenomenal. While the cold water can be painful and numbing, once you’re done your body will naturally try to warm itself. You end up feeling warmer than ever and your mind is flooded with dopamine, boosting your mood for hours to come.
Depending on the person and when they take a cold shower, it can feel like a jolt of caffeine, provide a huge boost to their mood, or cool off their muscles after exercise.
The Why
Our bodies are constantly trying to maintain a biological balance known as homeostasis. As Lembke explains in Dopamine Nation, this innate desire for balance extends to our mood and psychological state. If we feel an excess of pleasure, our brain will tell our body to push a little farther on the pain side. For example, say we’ve just spent a night watching an enthralling movie. We loved every second of it, but once it’s over our brain tells us, “oh but what about all the work we still have to do?”, then we feel guilty for enjoying that movie. Balance is restored.
This same phenomenon can be seen, however, when we feel something painful. Pain forces our body to want to regain homeostasis (that biological balance), so it pushes us towards the pleasure side to compensate for the pain. That’s what’s happening when we take cold showers.
💡 In fact, studies have shown that cold showers can increase blood plasma dopamine concentrations by 250% and plasma norepinephrine concentrations by 530%.
So, cold showers flood our system with dopamine and norepinephrine, making us feel incredibly good. You’re getting a similar “high” as if you just took a hit of opium.
💡 Need more convincing for trying a cold shower?
- Cold showers have been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting sick by 29%
- Cold water immersion can delay muscle soreness after intense exercise
- WebMD claims cold showers help “reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, lower stress levels, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue”
- Cold showers can improve sleep because cold water causes the body to naturally try to warm up, speeding up metabolism and activating the immune system
The How
I fell in love with cold showers, the day after I first tried it. It’s simple: take a regular warm shower, and right before you want to exit turn the water temperature down GRADUALLY to really cold. Gradually is important here because it helps your body slowly adjust to the cold instead of shocking it. Breathe deep and remain calm. The first few seconds your body will feel like it’s screaming for you to stop, but after 60 seconds you feel absolutely great.
Like with all things in life, moderation is key. If you feel unwell, stop. If you want gradually take colder and colder showers, do that. And obviously, please consult your healthcare provider if you’re uncertain if cold showering is safe for you.
If you made it this far, that’s awesome! Be sure to share this article, or copy the emojis 🥶🚿 in a comment down below if you’ve ever tried cold showering!
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