I Started Every Morning With a Cold Shower for 30 Days—Here's What Happened

Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we’ll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from trying new beauty treatments to copying the most risqué runway looks of the season.

Name: Clare Moore, Influencer Marketing Manager

What did you try?

Starting my day with a cold shower for 30 days.

Why did you want to try it?

I wanted to see if it improved my mood, if it could help with circulation/post-workout soreness, and how quickly it would wake me up to be a morning person again.

By focusing on breathing to stay in the cold water, I was able to center myself. I wanted to see if it reduces anxious thoughts before starting my day.

How did you prepare?

I read a lot of cold water therapy articles to see any tips. I understood that I would need to count down to stay focused in the shower.

To make sure I was in and out of the shower as quickly as possible, I prepped my shower products, so they were lined up to be used.

Post-shower was the most important aspect so I could become warm again. I had my towel, head towel, and slippers waiting for me outside of the shower.

What happened during the whole process?

I realized how resilient my body is and how it can go under intense shock, like ice-cold water. I also was able to focus on my breathing if I just take the time.

I also started to enjoy the mornings; it became almost like an accomplishment to start the day with a cold shower.

Any challenges?

Being honest, the whole thing! I audibly say brrr and how cold I am a lot, so this felt like a challenge for someone who loves a long, hot shower and the idea of being warm in general. It's a whole mind shift.

Any surprises?

More appreciation for my body and how I started to want to challenge myself for how long I could stay in the shower. I never really believed in breathwork, but it really calmed me.

How did you feel afterward? What kind of changes did you notice?

I was more awake and ready for the day! I think this will be a good tool to use when I wake up groggy, or even if I'm feeling groggy in the middle of the day—I can just quickly hop in a cold shower to wake me up.

What did you like about it?

I am a routine person by nature, so I loved making the cold shower part of my daily routine. I also like that I was starting my day with something that could improve my overall health.

What did you hate?

It was rough to test this out in the cold New York winter! It's not ideal to hop in a cold shower when it's 20ºF outside.

Would you try it again?

Absolutely! I don't think it will be a part of my normal routine, but it's a really good habit to add to my day every few weeks.

Any advice for anyone who's thinking about trying it?

It felt like when I do a hard workout—I have to remind myself that I can do anything for X amount of time.

You can start your shower for two to three minutes being ice cold and then quickly you can change to heat to finish off your shower if you need to shave your legs or just want to stand in the shower for longer.

If you normally love being warm, it's not going to be easy for the first 10 days, but it starts becoming more natural over time. Plus, if you tend to take a long time to get ready or are notoriously late, you will now take the fastest shower of your life and therefore get ready quicker and therefore end up on time!

Products I Used During the Challenge