4 ms·

My dad was always going on about how he never got colds because he did alternate hot/cold showers (as in hot/cold within one shower session). This is also somet

My dad was always going on about how he never got colds because he did alternate hot/cold showers (as in hot/cold within one shower session). This is also something I saw the old folks do at the mineral baths in my hometown of Stuttgart: take blisteringly hot showers, then jump into the cold, bubbly, sulphury pool, repeat as long as you can withstand it. It's very relaxing but not sure it has any lasting benefits.

llm_nerd 3y ago
The human condition is such a weird one that for me the biggest benefit is hacking with hedonic adaptation. Of constantly resetting baselines so there is appreciation of the many wonderful things in life. Many of the most enjoyed moments in my life -- moments when I really was living the moment, and appreciating and enjoying every element -- were often after "bad" moments. Not bad like war or trauma or anything, but like my best camping moment ever was when it had been raining for days, we were cold and miserable, but then the sun rose and it was a warm day and that day, with everything drying, warmth, and comfort, suddenly everything was brighter and better than it had ever been. The meal we made over the fire was next level. My best moment skiing was having a long, tiring and intensely cold day and then going into the blazing hot cabin to sit by a fire and have hot chocolate. I make a french press pot of freshly brewed coffee and honestly the experience quickly becomes....meh. It's just coffee. But then I go on a business trip for a week, where I can only source mediocre coffee, and suddenly come home and my home coffee is just revelatory. It is just something I can sink into and sit in awe of. So cold showers for me are like that. It is intense discomfort to reset the baseline, and suddenly warmth feels exhilerating and wonderful.

4 ms·

My dad was always going on about how he never got colds because he did alternate hot/cold showers (as in hot/cold within one shower session). This is also somet

by zwieback 3y ago

llm_nerd 3y ago
The human condition is such a weird one that for me the biggest benefit is hacking with hedonic adaptation. Of constantly resetting baselines so there is appreciation of the many wonderful things in life. Many of the most enjoyed moments in my life -- moments when I really was living the moment, and appreciating and enjoying every element -- were often after "bad" moments. Not bad like war or trauma or anything, but like my best camping moment ever was when it had been raining for days, we were cold and miserable, but then the sun rose and it was a warm day and that day, with everything drying, warmth, and comfort, suddenly everything was brighter and better than it had ever been. The meal we made over the fire was next level. My best moment skiing was having a long, tiring and intensely cold day and then going into the blazing hot cabin to sit by a fire and have hot chocolate. I make a french press pot of freshly brewed coffee and honestly the experience quickly becomes....meh. It's just coffee. But then I go on a business trip for a week, where I can only source mediocre coffee, and suddenly come home and my home coffee is just revelatory. It is just something I can sink into and sit in awe of. So cold showers for me are like that. It is intense discomfort to reset the baseline, and suddenly warmth feels exhilerating and wonderful.