I know what you are saying, but I need my coffee or my eyes won’t even open. Hear me out and promise to try this for ONE WEEK before caving in to your normal coffee routine.
Many of you have heard of Wim Hof. If not, then please click the link below to check him out! His methods are amazing, and they truly work. No this is not a paid ad just wanted to share how cold showers have truly changed my life. Yep that’s the morning miracle, nothing fancy and it’s something we all pretty much have access to.
I started doing cold showers first thing in the morning for over a year now and I do not like to start my day any other way. The refreshing clean energy that it gives is completely addictive. Now don’t get me wrong every morning my body is telling me it doesn’t want to jump into a cold shower, but my mind knows how great and alert I feel after. I look at it as my first mental challenge of the day proving that your mind can overpower matter. It makes other challenges of the day seem less intense. To get even more personal I battle with clinical depression and take anti-depressants. After the birth of my daughter my depression worsened with post-partum. Since I have started taking cold showers every morning, I have been able to decrease the dosing of my anti-depressant. Now I am not saying that this will ring true for everyone, just sharing my journey and experience. I truly hope that you will give it a try for at least a week. One of my favorite things in my bathroom is my towel warmer. I will link it below. Coming out of the cold shower into a nice warm towel is like in the movies when the clouds part and the sun comes out and the birds are singing. Sets a great tone to start your day.
Cold showers are not just hype there is true scientific research to back it.
Here are some benefits that you get from taking cold showers or ice baths:
- Increased alertness. It awakens the whole body. The cold changes the way you breath. You take deeper breaths thus increasing your body’s O2.
- Increases your body’s immune system. There is research that shows the cold stimulates production of your body’s cells that fight off disease, your white blood cells.
- Increases your mental strength as it takes willpower to take the dive in.
- Reduces levels of stress.
- Increases metabolic rate, which can help burn fat.
- Increases production of brown fat, which is the good fat that your body needs to create energy and burns calories
How to get started:
- You can start with just 30 to 60 secs then work your way up. Goal is to do at least 2 mins.
- This isn’t necessarily a shower to wash ect… It is more of one to restore your mind and body. Take it as time to channel in and be mindful. Be present, notice how each part of your body feels, your muscles, your breath, your thoughts…
- I literally to myself count to three then dive straight in. There is science behind a count down. It quiets the brain and allows you to set forth to the task at the end of the count down.
- Build it into your morning routine. I like to start with it right after I brush my teeth that way I don’t put it off, plus it gives you that morning jolt to start the day.
- Set a goal for yourself for that week, i.e. to do it every weekday. The more you show up to reach your goals the more self confidence you build. This adds to the improved mental strength and overall feeling of wellness.
There you have it how to get your freezing cold shower on! If you have questions or comments, please reach out to us on the Contact Us page. We love to hear from you! If there is a topic that you want us to cover shoot us a line.
Towel warmer: Haven bucket towel warmer (Got mine from bed bath and beyond - don’t forget to use your 20% coupon!)
Resource:
https://www.wimhofmethod.com/benefits-of-cold-showers