Is taking a shower part of your before-bed routine? You're not alone. In fact, researchers celebrate this habit for helping regulate body temperature, stimulate blood flow, and get you to sleep faster. But a cold shower before bed? Well, that move isn't quite as popular.
Benefits of Showering Before Bed
Incorporating a shower into your bedtime routine provides a few different benefits. For one, it helps you establish a regime, which can contribute to a more consistent sleep pattern. If you take a shower every night before winding down, your brain will eventually start to interpret that action as a signal to sleep.
There's also the more obvious benefit of getting you clean and comfortable before crawling into bed. This helps reduce the buildup of sweat, dirt, body oils, and dead skin on your bedding. Â
Effects of Cold Showers on Sleep
Cold showers are typically associated with extreme external temperatures and problems with your pipes. Less often is it introduced as part of a bedtime routine. Still, it does happen. Check out the list to learn more about how cold showers can improve sleep.
Effects of Hot Showers Before Sleep
We all love a hot shower. Listed below, we detail a few reasons why we might want to indulge that aren't related to getting cozy, and comfortable.
What's Better: A Hot Shower or Cold Shower Before Bed?
So, what's the best before bed, taking a cold shower at night, or a hot one instead? The answer isn't crystal clear. Each option carries its own unique benefits. At the same time, cold showers do have a tendency to raise alertness, which isn't exactly the best idea before going to sleep.
Individual factors also come into play. If you're sore from exercise or a physically demanding work regime, a cold shower may be your best bet. This will help soothe your muscles and help you get comfortable in bed. Meanwhile, a hot shower may help you fall asleep a little faster, which is great if you have an early morning ahead.
There's also the happy middle ground to consider. A lot of experts actually suggest sticking to lukewarm water. Taking a warm shower or bath is a good way to avoid changes in blood pressure that hot showers typically introduce. It's also a good way to avoid the level of alertness cold showers often inspire.
Conclusion
Bedtime routines can be pretty specific. If you're thinking of adding a shower to the list, then temperature is definitely something you should consider. While both hot and cold showers introduce their own unique benefits, the best way to decide is by experimenting with what works best for you.
If you've started showering before bed to fall asleep faster and are unsatisfied with the results, it may be time to try out some other alternatives.
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