The internet’s obsession with cold showers
So apparently, everyone on social media has turned into some kind of “cold shower guru.” You scroll through Instagram or TikTok, and there’s always that one dude saying how his life changed after taking freezing cold showers for 30 days. Like bro, it’s just water, not therapy. People talk about it like it’s a miracle—better focus, glowing skin, billionaire mindset—you name it. But let’s be real for a second. Cold showers might not be the magical thing they’re hyped up to be. In fact, they can actually mess with your body in sneaky ways that no influencer will tell you about.
Your body hates shock (even if your brain says otherwise)
You know that feeling when you jump into cold water and your whole body just… freezes? Literally. Your heart rate spikes, your breathing gets weird, and for a few seconds, you kind of panic. That’s your body saying, “Dude, what the hell is happening?” It’s not calmness; it’s stress. And doing that every day? Not exactly the best thing for your nervous system. There’s a study somewhere (I’m not pulling out citations, relax) showing that sudden cold exposure can increase cortisol, the stress hormone. Imagine starting your day already stressed—like waking up late and then realizing your phone’s at 2%. That’s what you’re doing voluntarily with a cold shower.
It’s not great if your immune system isn’t top-notch
People love saying cold showers “boost immunity.” But honestly, if you’re already dealing with low immunity or frequent colds, it can do the opposite. Cold exposure puts your body under stress, and when your body’s stressed, it doesn’t fight germs well. I used to take cold showers every morning during winter (thanks to a random YouTube challenge). Guess what? I got sick three times that month. Maybe coincidence, maybe not, but my mom didn’t buy the “biohacking” excuse when I was sneezing like a broken faucet.
Your skin and hair might hate you for it
Everyone claims cold showers make your skin glow. Yeah, maybe for a few minutes. But long-term, cold water can tighten pores and reduce the skin’s natural oil production. Sounds good, but that can make your skin super dry and flaky, especially if you already have sensitive skin. And for hair? Cold water might make it look shinier right after, but it doesn’t clean your scalp properly. So all that oil and dirt stays trapped like your secrets in your notes app. Warm water actually helps dissolve oil and wash away bacteria, while cold just… chills it. Literally.
The mental health hype is overrated
There’s this claim floating around Reddit threads and “wellness TikToks” that cold showers help depression. I get where that’s coming from—the shock gives you a quick rush, like adrenaline. But that’s temporary. Once your body adjusts, there’s no real lasting effect. If anything, forcing yourself into something uncomfortable every morning can make you dread your mornings even more. There’s a thin line between “discipline” and “torture,” and cold showers kinda walk that line like a drunk tightrope artist.
Not everyone’s body is built the same
Some people genuinely feel good after a cold shower—and that’s fine. Maybe they have better circulation or live in hot weather. But if you have heart issues, high blood pressure, or any sort of chronic health thing, cold showers can make things worse. Cold water makes your blood vessels constrict, which raises blood pressure. So if you’re already stressed or anxious, that’s like pouring gasoline on the fire. I once read a doctor on Twitter say, “If you wouldn’t dunk your grandma in an ice bath, maybe don’t do it to yourself every day.” Made sense to me.
The fake productivity boost
People love to say, “Cold showers make me productive.” I used to believe that too. Until I realized I was just awake because my body was in survival mode. Like of course you feel alert—you just got hit by liquid ice. That’s not productivity, that’s panic dressed up in discipline. The problem is, people mistake short-term alertness for actual energy. Once your body calms down, you’re back to square one, but now you’re shivering and late for breakfast.
The myth of mental toughness
There’s this macho culture around cold showers. “If you can handle the cold, you can handle anything.” I mean, sure, but can you handle your emails? Your rent? Your existential dread? Being uncomfortable doesn’t automatically make you mentally strong. Sometimes it just makes you uncomfortable, period. I’m not saying avoid challenges—but maybe pick ones that don’t involve turning yourself into a popsicle.
Warm showers deserve more love
Warm showers don’t get enough credit. They relax muscles, help you breathe better, and actually clean your body properly. And no, they don’t make you lazy or weak. There’s something therapeutic about standing under warm water and just zoning out for a few minutes—it’s like your body gets a mini vacation before the chaos of the day. If you really want the “benefits” of both worlds, you can end your shower with a quick splash of cold water. Not too extreme. Just enough to feel fresh without freezing your soul.
So maybe cold showers aren’t evil, but they’re not magical either
At the end of the day, if you enjoy them, go for it. But don’t fall for the internet hype that says cold showers will fix your anxiety, make you rich, and give you superhero-level energy. For most of us, it’s just unnecessary suffering disguised as self-improvement. There are better ways to wake up and feel good—like coffee, sunlight, or, I don’t know, actually sleeping enough.