Video·Domino Development·4 min read·June 2026

Embracing Cold: A Journey Through Daily Cold Showers for Resilience and Clarity

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When the summer started, I built the habit of showering in cold water. There ought to be a lot of health benefits with taking cold showers, but what I’m looking for is a safe and optional challenge to test my psychological resilience, which is the ability to mentally cope with tough times. So for the month of July, I’ve taken cold showers every day, to see what would happen. Instead of taking one long shower every day, as many cold shower experiments suggest, I decided to go for multiple daily showers. It turned out to be 2 to 5 daily showers, so about 100 showers in total this month. I gave myself the freedom to choose when to shower. The length of the showers ranged from a couple of to a fair few minutes. I rarely checked the temperature, but the average temperature was 15 degrees celsius.

I’m mostly recording from my summerhouse, where I’m showering outside, so there is no way I’m gonna get warm water out of this... I didn’t accurately document the total amount of showers I had, nor the length of the showers. I almost regret that afterward, but the idea was to shower in cold water, and that’s what I did. Some people around me have asked me how I take these cold showers. The most honest answer is: I turn on the water. It’s not a joke. Maybe it was a bit funny, but it’s so true. There are very limited workarounds. You just have to face the challenge over and over again in order to get comfortable with it. To facilitate the process of exposing myself to cold temperature, I gradually took control of my breathing with relaxed deep breaths. To not make the experience worse, I also avoided thoughts like; This is ice cold.

What am I doing? This is ice cold”. Instead, I tried to think; “Yeah, this is warm and comfortable. I like showering in hot water”. To clarify: The water did not magically turn warm, but a changed mindset towards the task surely helped me out. I took cold showers every day for 2 weeks, as preparation before July. I had also taken cold showers every now and then, since a year back, so I knew what to expect, but I haven't done it with this much consistency. 40 days in a row, and counting, I put myself through the pain and the pleasure of taking cold showers. Over time, I started to feel the benefits. Cold showers are said to boost your testosterone levels and improve your immune system, etcetera. I didn’t notice any of those health benefits. The most important benefit I noticed was my improved ability to make smaller everyday decisions.

In my latest video about overthinking, I researched how cold showers are connected to decision making. I found out that cold showers release tension and reduce stress, both of which are triggers for anxiety. And anxiety could be driving your overthinking. We mostly avoid small tasks due to laziness. But with the upgraded discipline I built, and with the strengthened focus I found, I tick those minor tasks off my list like never before. I noticed some small, but significant benefits as well: If I’m feeling tired or lost, a cold shower will help me focus. To avoid short impulses and distractions, I hop into a cold shower. If my day is not going well, I can restart the day with a cold shower. I also want to mention that because the showers are so freezingly cold, there is no way I’m staying in the showers nearly as long as I used to when I showered with reasonable temperature, thus giving me more time for other activities, and keeping the electricity

bill down to a minimum. Just like I suspected, taking cold showers is a great practice for building habits. It’s what I call a “just do it task”. There is no quick fix and there isn’t much you can do to facilitate the process. You just have to do it over and over again, until you reach that point where you just do the task. The same applies to getting up in the morning, working out, or any other habit. It’s the same discipline that is put to the tests, and I sure noticed a positive change in my attitude towards these types of tasks. Just do it. You’ll feel better afterward :). In my first cold showers, I just stayed in survival mode. I didn’t find much enjoyment in exposing myself to cold water, besides the sense of accomplishment once the shower was over.

The showers got easier with time, to a point where it wasn’t much of a challenge anymore. I still feel a little resistance towards taking cold showers, but now I have learned to actually enjoy cold showers. Will I continue with this habit? Yes. Partly at least. I will mostly do what I call reversed James Bond showers. You may know about the so-called “James Bond shower”, where you start with warm water, progressing into a cold shower. I’m doing do the opposite of that: You start with cold water and make it into hot shower.

A reversed James Bond shower is a better fit for me for a number of reasons: One; my shower is cold in the beginning anyway, and it takes some time to adjust the temperature. Two; I’m taking cold showers to reset my body, often in preparation for a difficult task, and I find it more relaxing to leave a warm shower. Three; I like being able to feel my fingers and toes. They tend to become numb after a while in cold showers. Overall, I surely enjoyed the first monthly experiment I documented. I showered in the morning, in the evening, during the day. I showered inside. I showered outside. I showered when it was really cold outside. I showered outside when it was raining. I even showered when I was supposed to be sleeping. That one was probably a bit stupid, but I don’t blame myself. I’m just trying to make memories for life.

Can you do an impression of me? My brother being super-funny... ;) I had the Wim Hof method in the back of my mind, during my last cold showers. Wim Hof is a global health leader and a pioneer in science to name a few of his titles. He is also known as “The Ice Man”, so he knows what he is talking about. The Wim Hof method is about combining commitment with cold exposure and breathing techniques. Those 3 pillars are supposed to be the key to unlocking your full human potential or something like that. For the month of August, I’m trying the Wim Hof breathing method every day, while doing reversed James Bond showers every day as well. If you want to do further research on the topic of cold showers, I have linked my two favorite YouTube videos and my two favorite articles, in the description.

However, the best thing you can do right now to explore cold showers would be to take one yourself. I dare you! If you're attempting this, you're playing with fire. When you are done, let me know how it went. Thanks for watching. This has been Domino Development, and why are you still here? You're supposed to ake a cold shower! Oh, you're waiting for the video to end. Well... Good luck, stay cool, and piece out! Can you name one more YouTuber who goes from having nothing but underwear to wearing a tie, in the same video? No? I guess we’re onto something then… Standing out from the crown can get you the crown. Piece out!

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

As the summer sun blazed, a unique challenge emerged: taking cold showers every day for an entire month. This endeavor was not merely about braving the chill; it was a deliberate exploration of psychological resilience—the capacity to navigate life's challenges with clarity and composure.

Through this ritual, the journey unfolded, revealing insights into decision-making, discipline, and the subtle art of embracing discomfort. With each cold shower, a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection emerged, paving the way for a more intentional approach to daily life.

100 Total cold showers taken in July 15 Average temperature of the cold showers in Celsius

Challenge Overview

The challenge began with a simple premise: to take cold showers daily throughout July. Instead of one prolonged experience, the approach involved multiple shorter showers—averaging between two to five each day. This flexibility allowed for a total of approximately 100 cold showers over the month, with an average temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.

The goal was not just to endure the cold but to cultivate a habit that could enhance psychological resilience. As the participant noted, "You just have to do it over and over again, until you reach that point where you just do the task." This repetition is key to building discipline and fostering a mindset that embraces challenges.

"You just have to do it over and over again, until you reach that point where you just do the task." — Domino Development

Mental and Physical Benefits

The benefits of cold showers extend beyond mere discomfort. Research suggests that exposure to cold can stimulate the release of neurotransmitters, which may enhance mood and reduce anxiety. In this experiment, the participant observed a notable improvement in decision-making abilities, stating, "The most important benefit I noticed was my improved ability to make smaller everyday decisions."

By reducing stress and tension, cold showers can help mitigate the triggers of anxiety, allowing for greater clarity in daily choices. This newfound discipline translated into a more focused approach to tasks—small decisions became less daunting, and the participant found that cold showers provided a refreshing reset during challenging days.

Shower Technique and Experience

The experience of taking cold showers evolved throughout the month. Initially approached with trepidation, the ritual gradually transformed into a source of enjoyment. The participant adapted their mindset, consciously reframing thoughts from discomfort to comfort: "Instead, I tried to think; 'Yeah, this is warm and comfortable.'"

This mental shift, combined with controlled breathing techniques, facilitated a more pleasant experience. As the participant reflected, cold showers became less about survival and more about embracing the invigorating sensation. The practice also led to practical benefits, such as reduced shower time and lower energy bills, further enhancing the appeal of this intentional ritual.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, the participant expressed a desire to continue this journey with a new twist: the 'reversed James Bond shower.' This method involves starting with cold water before transitioning to warmth, aligning with the intention of resetting the body before tackling challenging tasks. As they prepare to incorporate the Wim Hof breathing method alongside their cold shower practice, the commitment to exploring the benefits of cold exposure deepens.

The most honest answer is: I turn on the water.

The participant's journey serves as an invitation to others: "If you're attempting this, you're playing with fire." Engaging with cold showers can be a powerful tool for enhancing resilience and mental clarity—an opportunity to step outside comfort zones and embrace the invigorating power of cold.

Words Worth Hearing

"The most important benefit I noticed was my improved ability to make smaller everyday decisions." — Domino Development "If you're attempting this, you're playing with fire." — Domino Development

Practical Takeaways

Consider incorporating cold showers into your daily routine to enhance psychological resilience and decision-making.
Reframe your mindset towards discomfort—embracing it can lead to unexpected benefits and clarity.

Contrast Collective | YouTube

Wim's Wise Words

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

What this experiment gets right is something most cold-water writing misses: the point was never the cold.

The cold is a constant. What changes is your relationship to the decision. A hundred showers into a daily practice and you stop negotiating with yourself — not because the cold becomes pleasant, but because the negotiation becomes boring. That shift, quiet and gradual, is where real adaptation lives.

The breath matters more than the temperature. At 15°C, a cold shower is manageable. What makes it useful or wasted is whether you engage your breathing deliberately from the first second. Most people gasp and wait for the shock to pass. The alternative — slow, controlled exhales from the belly — moves you from reactive to deliberate almost immediately. This is not a coping strategy; it is the mechanism by which the practice works.

After a few weeks, what you are looking for is not the absence of resistance but a different quality of it. The cold is still there. The impulse to avoid it is still there. What changes is the gap between impulse and action — that gap narrows, and eventually almost disappears. When it does, you discover something portable: the same narrowing starts appearing in other decisions, in moments of friction, in the pause before a difficult conversation.

On timing

Cold before a task requiring focus tends to work well — cleaner decisions, reduced internal noise. Cold in the late evening is worth more care. Some people sleep more soundly after an evening exposure; others find it extends alertness into the hours they need for rest. Pay attention to where you land. The practice is most useful when it works with your physiology, not against it.

One more thing worth knowing if this practice takes hold: cold showers and full cold immersion are related but different. A shower places you in the impact zone. Immersion surrounds the body fully — different circulatory load, different relationship to stillness, a higher ceiling of adaptation over time. Neither replaces the other. If you build a consistent shower practice and find yourself wanting more, that next step tends to feel like natural progression rather than escalation.

The discipline this builds is real, and it transfers. Not immediately, not dramatically — but steadily, the way any practice compounds. The shower is just the door. What opens when you walk through it consistently is harder to name and worth more than any single benefit.