[L_226]

I agree, the article was not particularly enthralling. However as someone who regularly takes cold showers, this is how I think about it:

Cold showers are not "performative discomfort" - no one has to know about it if you don't tell them. They're about forcing your body into an almost painful situation, overriding the animal instinct to always seek warmth, shelter, comfort. It is about practicing an exertion of your willpower; your will as a thinking human to endure something uncomfortable with no immediate gain - this is about proving to yourself that _you_ are in control of your body, not the other way around. The same can be said for willing yourself to stop at one drink, or one doughnut, or whatever vice you enjoy. Daily cold showers provide a constant reminder that you are the ultimate arbiter of your mood. They are a form of self flagellation that promotes cross-functional discipline.

In addition to all that, there is the anti-inflammatory response cold showers bring that can aid in recovery after exercise, cardiovascular benefits and so on.

If you have some other form of physical self discipline that helps you more tangibly - great! For me, cold showers integrate very well into my daily routine and I find that days that start with a cold shower are far more productive than those without. It only takes a minute.

[groby_b]

I am, oddly, very much in control of my body even though I use warm showers. By all means, find your joy in cold showers - but it's worth keeping in mind that they're exactly what you call them, self-flagellation. I choose to forgo that, as well as cilice and living in a cloister.

Yes, the anti-inflammatory response is great. But usually, an ice-pack does a better job because it is targeted. Only very few moments in life bring inflammation for your entire body. We really should stop pretending there is value in suffering for suffering's sake.

By all means, do the things that make you happy. Just realize that they are "you" things, not universal truths.

[P5fRxh5kUvp2th]

well said.

I'll take a cold shower occasionally, usually for specific reasons (just came inside from hot, dusty work and want to cool down). It's no more uncomfortable than jumping into a cold creek to swim as a kid, it kind of amazes me that people do it thinking there's a philosophical aspect to it.

I would almost argue that maybe if you think that's uncomfortable in some significant way that you live a very comfortable life.

[leobabauta]

Cold showers are about opening ourselves to more of life, including the parts we normally resist or think of as bad. It’s about embracing a wider spectrum of life’s experiences.

[nicbou]

Talking to strangers is opening yourself to more of life. Taking risks, trying things too.

Cold showers are just arbitrarily unpleasant, like sleeping on the floor or not salting your pasta water. You should save your resilience for pain that bears fruit.