Most of us look forward to the luxury of a hot shower every morning. It’s a small comfort when we’re tired and getting ready for the workday. But did you know that taking a hot shower can actually make you feel more tired in the morning?
The problem with hot showers is that when showering, our body temperature rises, but then sharply decreases when we step out of the shower. This is actually recommended as a method of relaxation before bed. If you want to feel more energized, you need to do something a little different.
Instead of just taking a hot shower, you need to make a small adjustment.
Follow these steps to feel more energized in the morning:
- Clean yourself off in the shower as you would normally
- Turn the shower to as cold as it gets and stand in the water for 30 seconds
- Turn the water back to hot and stand for another 30 seconds (as hot as you can stand)
- Turn the water back to as cold as it gets, and stand for 30 seconds again
Make sure that you always end at a cold temperature. The reason this works is because of the contrast in temperature. You are utilizing a technique called hot and cold hydrotherapy. Hot and cold hydrotherapy has been well researched as having benefits for various systems of the body.
Hot and Cold Shower Benefits
These benefits include reduced stress, a stronger immune system, improved blood circulation, and increased ability of the body to burn fat. There is also evidence that cold showers can be used to alleviate symptoms of depression.
The energy increasing benefits come from improved blood circulation. With improved blood circulation, more oxygen is getting to the brain, which can help you think more clearly and feel more awake. But as you can see, there are many benefits to this method of showering over your normal hot shower routine. If you think you’re tough enough, give it a try tomorrow morning and see if you can withstand it.
