If you don’t get that discipline creates freedom, this post will make no sense to you. If so, probably best not to read it.

Regular readers know I found value in taking cold showers. Maybe five years ago, after watching podcast guest Joel Runyon‘s TEDx talk on cold showers then reading his conversation with his readers on his Cold Shower Therapy Guide, which I recommend, I experimented taking a cold shower.

I learned a lot from the experience. It was December in New York City, and very cold, but very invigorating and any discomfort ended the moment I ended the shower. There was no risk of injury. I got most of the value I get from a workout or practicing anything challenging with no cost in time, money, or any other resources.

I then took only cold showers for thirty days. I knew I wanted to continue, but I couldn’t see myself taking only cold showers, so I settled on cold showers on my cardio days, which at that time were every four days.

Now I do cardio days every six days (here are all my sidchas and standard procedures) and I haven’t skipped any cold showers on cardio days since I started, maybe ten years ago, I forget.

I don’t think much of it. I just get the benefit, which is significant especially since it costs nothing. Still, I talk about it when people ask and sometimes find others sharing about their experiences.

A couple years ago I came across someone saying she stopped taking hot showers. I wouldn’t know where to start to find that source, but it got me thinking about not taking hot showers. Some time in the spring of 2024, I decided to try not taking hot showers. Not hot didn’t have to mean cold, but you know me. In practice, I end up approaching zero hot water in my non-cold showers. My non-cold showers have been only a few degrees warmer than my cold showers.

I didn’t note when I started, so I picked April 15 to mark the date for posterity. It could have been earlier or later, but since it’s warm by now, it doesn’t make much difference.

It turned out to be not that difficult, certainly not in summer, early fall, or spring. Winter could be tough, but again, there’s no pain or cost and any discomfort goes away.

My main results:

• More love for my neighbors as myself. Though I didn’t start doing it to reduce polluting or depleting, it does so I feel love for people whom I would harm by polluting and depleting, but do so less. Who doesn’t want more love in their life?
• Shorter showers. Most of my showers are about one minute.
• More emotional awareness: I used to see showers as a source of comfort. Now I see them as invigorating. I won’t compare emotions for their relative values, but modern life provides many sources of comfort, not as many for vigor.
• More emotional resilience and control: Take a few cold showers and you’ll know what I mean.

Will I keep going? Probably.

• ← The futures that futurists imagine are what I envision: Yet more evidence living without polluting or depleting isn’t regression
• Nonfood things I’ve bought this year →