Video·April Shwe-Paul·4 min read·June 2026

The Transformative Power of Cold Showers: A Week-Long Experiment

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this week we're trying cold showers for seven days hey guys hello I'm April shape or if you are new to this channel please subscribe down here if you are returning sup welcome before we start let me know in the comments below if there's any other challenges you'd like me to try for a week this week I'm taking cold showers instead of taking no triple e if you google it it will tell you that it's a antidepressant slash nerve desensitizing medication and I want to try alternative pain relief methods instead if you google the health benefits of cold showers the Internet has a lot of claims Wow because of my nerve injury my main interest in doing it is because it's meant to refit your entire nervous system so let's rip off that band-aid and go for it and just as a disclaimer I've never had a cold shower in my entire life I am a hot shower kind of girl so wish me luck day one I woke up did a quick

breathing technique because I read somewhere that it's meant to help heat up your body so I was hoping it would make it easier alright guys so I'm gonna get in and get into the cold shower I've done my breathing and now it's time for the routine I turn on that shower and I was freaking cold it's winter in New Zealand so my instance bolt was what the heck am i doing I didn't think too much when I went in and I had a cold time it was physically uncomfortable I was shivering jumping around reminding myself to breathe I was scooping up water onto my face and body jumped around some more when I turned off that shower it made the bathroom feel warm and I didn't need a heater to get changed when I went into my room afterwards I had instant alertness it woke me up and it also relieves my nerve pain overall it felt really good afterwards it was just the

before that was really difficult day two I woke up it was a cold morning and my mind remembered the terrors of day one when I hopped in their shower and did not want to go in again today but my nerves pain was bad so that motivated me to go back in there I did the two minute 1/2 breathing technique and then I hopped in the shower it was harder today because I was thinking about it way too much when you get in there there's an instant shock and your stress response is triggered you want to get out but it's important to keep breathing you tend to want to hold your breath when you're in the water because it's uncomfortable you do need to remind yourself to keep breathing through it because that makes it easier but afterwards I felt more refreshed my mind felt clear and alert rather than foggy and groggy and my pain listened day 3

shampooing and body washing in a cold shower is bloody hard it's not relaxing and you 100% want to get out of there as soon as possible but afterwards you will feel relaxed and really good my pain levels have actually really reduced so it's actually really helping with the nerve pain that I have that is my older nerve my median nerve and my radial nerve so the cold chart is really working for me I do feel more sharp more focused more energetic and just generally I feel a lot better after the cold shower so I noticed that the lifts you think about it the better the outcome because you kind of don't think and you just get yourself in there and just you know plunge your body in cold water I tried an 11-minute breathing technique before the shower to see if it made a difference it didn't make a difference day four this is the first

day not showering first thing in the morning and actually showered midday and freind let me tell you it does not get easier to have a cold shower midday when it's warmer odd bright but I still got the same kind of result with pain relief thank God normally after the showers I don't feel cold but today is different because I actually do feel cold straight after the shower I'm just in my towel at the moment I need to go get dressed in a second but I thought it just come on here and give you my first impression colder than normal it's been a little good experiment to change things up a little bit so it makes a difference doing it first thing in the morning I really love doing it first thing in the morning and it also makes a difference focusing on the breathing and continuing doing the breathing throughout the time after today I realized I prefer cold showers in the morning which I'd never thought I'd hear myself say those words day number five I was hoping practice would make it easier but no I had goose

bumps going in there today it's actually the mental aspect that's the hardest before you get into the shower the main thing I'm struggling with is the mental aspect of it so my mind's like I've got several more days of those oh my god but then after I come out I'm like wow so it's a huge contrast it's really weird and really bizarre and hard for me to explain but that's basically it you know before I go in I'm like oh my gosh no I want to go in like a child but then once I'm in I'm like yes I want to do this all the time I want to feel this great and vibrant and confident and happy and alive but when you are preparing yourself to do it it's not as easy I am prepping in advance so I will stand in the water I'll dip my toes in and you know feel the cold of that and I find that the easiest way for me to get in the cold shower is with my back rather than with my front and I feel like it's just a natural survival mechanism to protect up to my organs at

the front you know my heart my lungs everything's at the front where is my back it's just the spine and the rib cage that is protecting me so it's quite interesting I find it's a lot easier when I do it that way I do have to say I've been taking about three to five minutes showers and normally I'd take about 10 to 15 minutes hours with my warm shower so I guess I'm saving water and the electricity bill and helping Auckland out with the drought that's currently happening in the city you're welcome to zealand day6 I woke up in pure agony before the shower it was easier because I had motivation to get into that cold shower today I probably push my body a bit too much yesterday I started doing a bit of cooking thinking that my recovery is doing pretty well and I should be fine but nope think again it was not a good idea I ended up waking out with really really short shoulders on both sides and just just yeah a lot of pain just doing simple things is really painful so I was actually this morning looking forward to my cold shower because I was like I know

this is gonna help with the pay and I found it I was obviously more motivated to get in that cold shower because of the pain and knowing that this cold shower is going to help relieve some of that pain so I think if you want to attempt cold showers in the future make a list of all the benefits and reasons why you actually want to take cold showers that will benefit you so that that actually gives you motivation and helps you get through the process more formally before showers were relaxing times for me you know times where I'm singing in the shower and just chilling out and just thinking it's a bit of a different experience going in there for a cold shower because you don't really have time for any of that cuz you're like so yeah you gotta figure out why you want to actually do it if you do attempt this after today I will write a list of benefits of cold showers to fuel my motivation to get in there day seven the last day of cold showers the last thing we've made it we

made it to the end of the week with cold showers and it's crazy today was amazing Hey look it doesn't get any easier every day but I will say that it does help with increasing your willpower and making yourself do things that your mind is telling you don't want to but you know it's going to be beneficial for you so I do highly recommend it after today today I learned a new technique on how to get into the cold shower which is to take a deep breath and then when you release walk into the shower and keep your shoulders down that really did make a huge difference and I'm sure as I keep going on doing this I'm going to learn more and more techniques to help me be able to have cold showers easily if that's the thing because it's always just getting in there that's the worst part of it once you're in there it's not as bad and then you're like oh this is actually kind of enjoyable and then after you get out you feel refreshed you feel great you feel alert you feel awake you feel alive after this experiment I

did notice I felt more efficient and effective in my day I had more time because I was taking shorter showers and 100% helped with the pain relief for my nerve injury of my arm well I can't tell you benefits of better skin here testosterone level and fertility the cold shower did make me feel alive energized alert and more confident to take on my day comment below if you love or hate cold showers don't forget to pop your suggestions below as well on things you'd like me to try for a week the benefits alone may have converted this hot shower lover to a cold shower girl maybe I should try it for a month [Music] [Applause]

Transcript auto-generated by YouTube. Verbatim — duplicates intentionally preserved.

In a world where comfort often reigns supreme, the idea of stepping into a cold shower may seem daunting. Yet, this simple act can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing physical and mental resilience. A week-long commitment to cold showers can lead to profound changes, from pain relief to increased energy levels. This exploration delves into the experiences of one individual who embraced this challenge, revealing insights that may inspire you to consider cold exposure as part of your wellness ritual.

The practice of cold showers, while not new, has gained traction in recent years as a method for improving health and longevity. With roots in ancient traditions and supported by modern science, the benefits of cold exposure extend beyond mere discomfort. As we unpack the journey of one participant, we will explore the mechanisms behind these benefits and how they translate into tangible improvements in daily life.

7 Days of cold showers completed 3 Minutes spent on average in cold showers 10 Minutes normally spent in warm showers

Introduction to Cold Showers

Cold showers challenge our comfort zones, triggering a range of physiological responses. When exposed to cold water, the body activates its stress response, releasing adrenaline and other hormones that prepare us for immediate action. This response can enhance alertness and improve mood, setting the stage for a productive day.

As April, the participant in this experiment, noted, "The cold shower did make me feel alive, energized, alert, and more confident to take on my day." This initial shock, while uncomfortable, can lead to a sense of clarity and focus that many find beneficial.

"It doesn't get any easier every day, but it does help with increasing your willpower." — April

Daily Experiences

Throughout the week, April documented her daily experiences, revealing the mental and physical challenges of cold showers. On day one, she described the initial shock as "physically uncomfortable," yet she found relief from her nerve pain shortly after stepping out. This pattern continued as she learned to manage her discomfort through breathing techniques, which helped her remain calm during the cold exposure.

As she progressed, April discovered that the mental aspect was often the most challenging. "It doesn't get any easier every day, but it does help with increasing your willpower," she shared. This mental fortitude is a crucial element of resilience, allowing individuals to confront discomfort and emerge stronger.

Overall Benefits

By the end of the week, the benefits of cold showers became increasingly apparent. April reported feeling more alert, energetic, and efficient. She noted a significant reduction in her nerve pain, which she attributed to the cold exposure. Research supports this, indicating that cold water immersion can reduce inflammation and improve recovery times for individuals experiencing chronic pain.

Additionally, April found that her showers were shorter—averaging just three minutes compared to the ten minutes typically spent in warm showers. This not only contributed to water and energy savings but also created a sense of efficiency in her daily routine. The cumulative effects of this practice led her to consider extending her cold shower ritual beyond the initial week.

Words Worth Hearing

"The cold shower did make me feel alive, energized, alert, and more confident to take on my day." — April "Once you're in there, it's not as bad and then you're like, 'Oh, this is actually kind of enjoyable.'" — April

take a deep breath and then when you release walk into the shower and keep your shoulders down

Practical Takeaways

Consider incorporating cold showers into your wellness ritual for potential pain relief and increased energy.
Practice breathing techniques to manage discomfort and enhance your experience during cold exposure.

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Wim's Wise Words

A second take, from someone who's lived it.

What stayed with me about April's week is something she almost buried mid-experiment — "it's the before that's really difficult." That's not a throwaway detail. That's the whole practice.

The gap between deciding to enter and actually entering is where most people turn back. Not because the cold is unbearable — it rarely is, once you're in it — but because the mind treats anticipation as reliable data. It isn't. The cold you imagine in the moments before entry is always more absolute than the cold you stand in. Once the water lands, the body takes over. The mind was simply guessing.

The breath is doing more than you think

When April landed on the exhale-and-lower-shoulders entry on day seven, she wasn't finding a comfort trick. She was calming her autonomic nervous system before asking it to absorb a stress load. That sequence — deep breath, slow release, shoulders down, step in — guides the body rather than ambushes it. That is the difference between a deliberate protocol and a daily ordeal.

If you're starting, spend the first week entirely on that breath. Not the duration, not the water temperature, not how you position yourself under the showerhead. Just the breath. Everything else — the tolerance, the stillness, the capacity to stay present under cold — follows from learning to exhale first.

The mental resistance April described — the dread that didn't diminish across seven days — is worth sitting with rather than trying to solve. The flinch is practice, not evidence that you're doing something wrong. The willingness to step in anyway — that is the adaptation the week is actually building.

On pain, circulation, and honest limits

April came to cold showers partly for relief from nerve pain — ulnar, median, radial — and found it, consistently, across seven days. Cold exposure drives circulation and supports the body's recovery from inflammation; the relief she described arriving within minutes is real and well-supported by research. It isn't the cold numbing the nerves. It's movement being restored to tissues that had grown stagnant.

One honest note: if you're managing chronic or injury-related pain, cold exposure complements recovery — it doesn't replace rest, rehabilitation, or proper medical guidance. The relief is real. The mechanism is real. And the practice has limits. Respect those limits, and it remains genuinely useful.

What April found at the end of seven days was not that the cold had become easier — it hadn't. She found that her relationship to resistance had shifted. That's the adaptation worth staying for. The cold is just the instrument. What it trains is the capacity to act in the presence of discomfort, which turns out to be one of the more transferable skills you can build before the day begins.