How This 90 Second Showering Hack Makes You Feel More Energized

Did you know that the average adult will spend around 4,000 hours of their lifetimes showering?  That’s the equivalent to a year and a half! Now what if I told you that you have probably been showering wrong?

If you take your showers in the morning like myself, you may assume they help energize you for the day – but that’s a common misconception. In fact, those morning showers can have the opposite effect.

Warm/hot showers, the most popular choice for the sane people of the World, are recommended by doctors to help those who struggle falling asleep to feel more relaxed and lethargic. The reason hot showers have this effect is because when you emerge from your shower into cooler air, you experience a decrease in body temperature which according to health.com leads to a more relaxed state. This of course is great for when you need to fall asleep but terrible if you’re taking a shower in the morning to help you wake up!

The good news is you don’t need to go crazy and only take cold showers. In fact, just a quick 90 second showering hack can help you feel more energized to start your day.

The big secret to this showering hack?

Contrast – Or should I say, showering with hot AND cold (yes, icy cold) water.

Now here’s how it works:

After you’ve finished your normal cleaning routine, you should turn the nozzle as cold as it can get and count to 30 while standing under the stream.

Once that 30 seconds is up, turn the nozzle to as hot as you can stand for an additional 30 seconds. This helps open your capillaries, thus increasing your blood flow and providing you with a full sense of stimulation.

Finally, finish off this showering hack with one more 30 second cycle of icy cold water. (Yes, unfortunately you need to end on the cold cycle again for this hack to properly help energize you!)

So what does this showering hack actually do for you?

Reduces Stress: In 1 study, 10 people who swam in ice-cold water showed an increased tolerance to stress. This is very beneficial, especially when just starting the day.

Improved Blood Circulation: When your body is exposed to cold water, your veins and arteries will constrict. Due to the temporary tightening, your blood will flow at a higher pressure which is great for your cardiovascular health.

Fights Depression: A study in 2008 found that cold showers can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and increase your beta-endorphin levels in the blood. This sends a high level of electric impulses to the nerve endings in your brain, which could ultimately produce an anti-depressant effect.

Increased Ability to Burn Fat: According to this study, a cold-induced glucose uptake results in your body creating brown fat cells, which will create “warmth” by burning fat.

When you first try out this new showering hack, keep in mind that it won’t be easy. In fact, I’ve been utilizing this showering hack every morning for awhile now and I’m still not used to the 90 second shock cycle from cold-hot-cold. But I will tell you that I feel more refreshed coming out of the shower than I have in years past.

Will you try out this showering hack? Comment below and let us know!
Share this article with someone who needs a little jump start to their morning!