The energy crisis of the last year made me reflect on how I consume energy, mainly ‘harmful’ energy like gas. My appartment is heated using gas and due to the insane prices of the past year, I too lowered my heating. I spent a big part of december with the heating turned off but once it got to 8 degrees Celsius in my appartment I figured that I should turn on the heating. It was set to 13-15 degrees Celsius throughout the winter. It made me realize that I don’t mind living in these temperatures. With a sweater on and underneath a blanket, it was actually quite comfortable. I also slept better in these temperatures than winters with the heating on.
So now that it’s getting warmer again, I felt like I might as well have cold showers. To save on gas (note: it’s not like I’m living in extreme poverty or anything, I just like finding ways to consume less), but also to see if the claimed health benefits are true. People like Wim Hof made a fortune selling books and courses on how to make your body adapt to cold temperatures and ice baths, making sometimes outrageous claims about its health benefits.
While I do know there are studies on the topic, I am also curious to see if you guys have any experiences taking cold showers and what effects it had for you.
They’re decent, but I think the benefits are overhyped by right leaning cranks. It is true that it easy to get ‘addicted’ to the comforts that electric heat can bring. I’ve watched winter survivalist shows where the guy survived without using a fire until the deepest cold of winter, and one can train onself to adapt but the unpleasantness imo isn’t always worth the trade off.
It’s sort of a balance you can find for yourself I guess. I don’t see the point in sitting in an 8 degree Celsius room just for shits and giggles or to show how manly I’m supposed to be. But after last winter I’ve found out that the standard 18-20 degree rooms make me feel uncomfortable as well.
Many health things, including fitness, seem to be taken over by right wing weirdos sadly.