Brrr!

Not my shower, but quite picturesque.

A few weeks back Lorraine recommended I listen to The Huberman Lab podcast episode with Dr. Wendy Suzuki. It was absolutely fascinating. First of all, these are two esteemed neuroscientists discussing research and daily habits that help them. Every once in a while they get “in the weeds” and spout some very technical jargon but for the most part it is easy to understand. 

They cover how exercise helps concentration and memory, how exercise can stave off dementia as we age, and how deliberate cold exposure can stimulate brain functions. And they talk about how they incorporate these findings in their daily lives. 

That part is most encouraging. These are scientists who study what helps the brain function and as they find research to support ideas, they act on them. Dr. Suzuki talks about how every day she starts with 30 minutes of cardio, and at the end of her morning shower puts on cold water for one minute. 

I keep dancing around this idea. Who wants to take a cold shower? Yikes. 

Well, the research is there. Cold showers have all sorts of physical benefits, but now they have also been shown to stimulate learning, help with mood and increase attention span. 

So I’ve been taking cold showers in the morning. It is quite the experience. I use deep breathing to help absorb the initial impact of the cold, but after several seconds it actually gets bearable. When I’m done I feel invigorated and alert. 

I’m taking the scientists word that I’m getting all kinds of benefits from this, but what I do know is this: I’m taking faster showers, so that’s good for the environment and water bill; I feel more alert for an hour or two; in these hot days it actually is refreshing and keeps me cooler longer after the shower. 

It is recommended that you do this in the morning. Definitely not at night because it may make it harder to fall asleep. At night a warm/hot shower will help you fall asleep.

There are also immune system benefits in switching between hot and cold, much like they do in Europe with saunas and ice baths.

I’m glad I’ve taken the plunge, and look forward to seeing how this affects me the more I do it.