Taking Cold Showers

#1

Post by jasonshen » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 4:26 PM UTC

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#2

Post by hugh3 » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 4:44 PM UTC

Interesting idea. Maybe I'll try it. I fear, though, that it'll just end with me lying in bed for an extra twenty minutes every day, not wanting to get up and face the cold shower.

Some say that willpower is like a muscle, and that the more you use it the more you develop it. On the other hand, maybe willpower is more like... a muscle, and if you use it too much on any given day then it just gets worn out. Will a cold shower before breakfast be followed by donuts for lunch?

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#3

Post by sdfjkl » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 4:50 PM UTC

Sounds a lot like Kneipp's idea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneipp - was pretty popular in Germany when I grew up).

Having been forced to take a week of cold showers due to a malfunctioning heater I can't say it made me any stronger. It just made me feel pissed off and not properly clean.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#4

Post by bgutierrez » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 4:57 PM UTC

sdfjkl wrote: post #3

Sounds a lot like Kneipp's idea ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneipp - was pretty popular in Germany when I grew up). Having been forced to take a week of cold showers due to a malfunctioning heater I can't say it made me any stronger. It just made me feel pissed off and not properly clean.

Jason Shen said that voluntarily taking cold showers increased his discipline. Can you imagine a different experience if you chose cold showers instead of being forced to take them?

I don't feel like I've properly had a shower unless the shower has raised my core temperature, but I'm going to give this a try. The easiest life hacks are ones that don't require a time commitment and only minor changes in routine.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#5

Post by parenthesis » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:00 PM UTC

I have a normal warm/hot shower to actually wash, and then at the end I switch off the heat and have a cold shower for a minute or two. I definitely feel the better for it afterwards, although the effect wears off after half an hour or so.

The only problem is that in the summer, the `cold' water isn't actually very cold.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#6

Post by wccrawford » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:01 PM UTC

hugh3 wrote: post #2

Interesting idea. Maybe I'll try it. I fear, though, that it'll just end with me lying in bed for an extra twenty minutes every day, not wanting to get up and face the cold shower. Some say that willpower is like a muscle, and that the more you use it the more you develop it. On the other hand, maybe willpower is more like... a muscle, and if you use it too much on any given day then it just gets worn out. Will a col…

I have to agree. I have a nice morning routine that starts my day off right. If I tried to add intentional pain to that routine, it would not be a good thing.

This might be something to do on the weekends, or afternoons, or something... But not my mornings.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#7

Post by yock » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:02 PM UTC

First there was Rejection Therapy and now this. I'm sure there's merit to this stuff but how many of these practices can one adopt before they transition from conqueror to masochist?

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#8

Post by orangecat » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:03 PM UTC

I'll be the meta-contrarian (http://lesswrong.com/lw/2pv/intellectual_hipsters_and_metaco...) and disagree. If you believe that it's important to deliberately suffer to build character, at least do something that provides some benefit like vigorous exercise, or even rejection therapy.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#9

Post by dgabriel » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

I've been ending my showers with cold water forever, but that's just because it's good for your hair (I have a lot of hair). I have not experienced any other appreciable benefits.

Re: Taking Cold Showers

#10

Post by sudhirc » Fri, Jun 10, 2011, 5:05 PM UTC

sdfjkl wrote: post #3

Sounds a lot like Kneipp's idea ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneipp - was pretty popular in Germany when I grew up). Having been forced to take a week of cold showers due to a malfunctioning heater I can't say it made me any stronger. It just made me feel pissed off and not properly clean.

I have taken cold shower almost all my life. Initially because my home was not equipped with a hot shower and later as an exercise is self control when shower became available. It may have felt better if you either adopted to it or it was not forced in the first place. One benefit which I have experienced is that outside temperature feel less harsh once you come out of the shower.