A simple change to a daily routine could deliver benefits for both people and the planet, according to new research examining the effects of cold showers.
Psychologist Dr Lena Glaser investigated whether small, manageable lifestyle changes are more likely to produce lasting behavioural shifts than more demanding environmental actions. Rather than asking people to give up driving, stop flying or change their diets, the study focused on something far simpler: lowering the temperature of their shower.
The research involved 719 adults aged between 18 and 65, who were asked to take the coldest shower their system allowed for a period of 12 weeks. Participants had to be in good health and could not already be regular cold-shower users.
Initial discomfort, longer-term rewards
Not everyone embraced the challenge. A number of participants abandoned the experiment during the first two weeks, suggesting that the transition was difficult for some.
Those who continued, however, generally reported that the experience became easier over time. Many described feeling more alert, energised and refreshed immediately after showering. Others said they felt a sense of achievement from pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.
Participants who maintained the habit also reported longer-term improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing.
Fewer sick days
While scientific evidence on cold-water exposure remains limited, supporters have long argued that it can improve mood, increase energy levels, ease muscle soreness and enhance resilience.
In Glaser's study, participants who regularly took cold showers recorded tangible benefits. On average, they took 31 per cent fewer sick days than those in the control group.
Savings for households and the environment
The environmental advantages were equally notable.
People tend to spend less time under cold water, reducing overall water consumption. Less hot water also means lower energy demand and reduced household utility costs.
Researchers calculated that for a typical 40-litre shower lasting around three to four minutes, reducing the temperature from 40°C to 15°C saves approximately 1.3 kilowatt-hours of energy. That is roughly equivalent to running a washing machine cycle or charging a smartphone around 100 times.
Over the course of the 12-week study, each participant reduced their carbon footprint by about 15 kilograms of CO₂, roughly the same emissions produced by driving around 100 kilometres.
Start gradually
For anyone reluctant to make the leap into icy water, Glaser recommends a gradual approach.
Rather than immediately turning the temperature to its lowest setting, she suggests slowly reducing the heat and building tolerance over time.
According to the researcher, the goal is not perfection but progress. Water temperatures do not need to be the same every day, and individuals should pay attention to how their bodies respond while gradually extending their comfort zone.
Source: Euronews
