What are the benefits of a cold shower before bed?
1. Taking a cold shower before bed can help you fall asleep faster. When you shower, your body temperature rises slightly. This rise in body temperature is part of what makes it harder to fall asleep. By contrast, a cold shower can lower your core body temperature, making it easier for you to fall asleep.
2. A cold shower can also improve the quality of your sleep once you’re asleep. Studies have shown that people who sleep in cooler rooms have better sleep quality than those who sleep in warmer rooms. So, if a cool room helps you sleep better, a colder shower should help you sleep even better!
3. Cold showers can also help boost your immune system. When exposed to cold water, your body releases white blood cells and antibodies, which fight off infection and illness. So, if you’re looking to stave off a cold or the flu, make sure to take a chilly shower before bed!
4. In addition to all these benefits, taking a cold shower before bed can also help wake you up in the morning. If you find it hard to get out of bed on chilly mornings, try ending your evening showers with 30 seconds of cool water. You might just find that it’s easier to get out of bed and start your day!
5. Finally, although it may not be the most pleasant way to end your day, taking a cold shower before bed has some serious benefits that are worth considering! If you’re struggling to fall asleep or looking for ways to improve your sleep quality, give it a try – you might be surprised at how well it works!
How does a cold shower before bed impact your sleep?
A hot shower before bed may seem like a good way to relax and wind down for the night. But according to some sleep experts, it could actually be sabotaging your slumber.
If you’re trying to sleep but just can’t seem to get comfortable or fall asleep, a cold shower may do the trick. A cold shower can help you fall asleep because it forces your body temperature to lower.
Our body temperature fluctuates throughout the day and is highest in the late afternoon and early evening hours. This is part of our natural circadian rhythm—the 24-hour internal clock that tells our bodies when we should sleep, wake up, eat, and more.
As bedtime approaches and we start to wind down for the night, our body temperature begins to drop slightly, making us feel sleepy. But if we take a hot shower right before bed, that rise in body temperature can signal our brain that it’s time to wake up—not time to go to sleep.
So if you’re having trouble nodding off at night, try taking a cold shower or bath about 90 minutes before you hit the hay instead of a hot one. The drop in body temperature will help signal to your brain that it’s time for sleep.
Are there any risks associated with taking a cold shower before bed?
Hot showers before bed are a no-no according to sleep experts. A hot shower can actually raise your body temperature, making it harder to fall asleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends a warm shower 90 minutes before bedtime.
But what if you’re feeling really hot and sweaty before bed? Is it OK to take a cold shower?
There’s no definitive answer, but some experts say yes. “A cold shower before bed can help you cool down and fall asleep more easily,” says Michael Breus, PhD, author of The Power of When. “The drop in body temperature signals the body that it’s time to sleep.”
If you go the cold route, make sure the water isn’t too chilly — you don’t want to wake yourself up! A lukewarm or cool shower should do the trick.
Tips for taking a cold shower before bed
1. First, decide if you want a hot or cold shower. If it is winter and you are trying to warm up before bed, a hot shower might be best. However, if it is summer or you are trying to cool down before bed, a cold shower might be best.
2. Second, take into consideration your circadian rhythm. This is the natural sleep cycle that your body goes through in a 24 hour period. Taking a cold shower before bed can help signal to your body that it is time to sleep.
3. Third, get into the shower and wet your hair and body with warm water.
4. Fourth, turn the temperature of the water all the way to cold and let the water hit your skin for 30-60 seconds.
5. Fifth, finish off with a warm rinse if desired and get out of the shower feeling refreshed and ready for bed!