The Cold Truth: Insights from a 24-Hour Cold Shower Challenge

One man. Twenty-four cold showers. Almost no sleep. The conclusion he reached — and the research that backs it — reframes how you think about cold exposure as a daily ritual.

The Cold Truth: Insights from a 24-Hour Cold Shower Challenge

View transcript

Taking Cold Showers Every Hour For 24 Hours My Results

00:00this is me waking up at 4:00 a.m. to do this is me waking up at 4:00 a.m. to do my 19th cold shower of the day but why my 19th cold shower of the day but why my 19th cold shower of the day but why for the last 3 years I have dedicated for the last 3 years I have dedicated for the last 3 years I have dedicated myself to becoming the best version of myself to becoming the best version of myself to becoming the best version of myself in all aspects of my life which myself in all aspects of my life which myself in all aspects of my life which has taken me on some pretty wild has taken me on some pretty wild has taken me on some pretty wild challenges from running a marathon with challenges from running a marathon with challenges from running a marathon with no training all the way to literally not no training all the way to literally not no training all the way to literally not eating any food for 86 hours for science eating any food for 86 hours for science eating any food for 86 hours for science of course but today I wanted to try a of course but today I wanted to try a of course but today I wanted to try a mentally difficult challenge cold mentally difficult challenge cold mentally difficult challenge cold exposure is a new fad recently and I exposure is a new fad recently and I exposure is a new fad recently and I wanted to see if it lives up to the hype wanted to see if it lives up to the hype wanted to see if it lives up to the hype so today I'm going to be taking a cold so today I'm going to be taking a cold so today I'm going to be taking a cold shower every hour for the next 24 hours all right 9:00 a.m. in the morning hours all right 9:00 a.m. in the morning I got to take a cold freaking shower not I got to take a cold freaking shower not I got to take a cold freaking shower not ideal but you know you got to do what ideal but you know you got to do what ideal but you know you got to do what you got to do by the way if I'm talking you got to do by the way if I'm talking you got to do by the way if I'm talking with a lisp I got a freaking canker with a lisp I got a freaking canker with a lisp I got a freaking canker hurts like a mofo anyways we we got to

01:00hurts like a mofo anyways we we got to hurts like a mofo anyways we we got to jump in this cold shower middle of jump in this cold shower middle of jump in this cold shower middle of winter in Utah I do got a little winter in Utah I do got a little winter in Utah I do got a little swimsuit on so you're not going to catch swimsuit on so you're not going to catch swimsuit on so you're not going to catch me lacking I will say that much there me lacking I will say that much there me lacking I will say that much there are only three rules for this challenge are only three rules for this challenge are only three rules for this challenge I need to take a 3 minute cold shower I I need to take a 3 minute cold shower I I need to take a 3 minute cold shower I need to monitor my breathing throughout need to monitor my breathing throughout need to monitor my breathing throughout the entire shower and I have to heat up the entire shower and I have to heat up the entire shower and I have to heat up naturally after the shower that means no naturally after the shower that means no naturally after the shower that means no towels no blankets nothing oh freak I'm towels no blankets nothing oh freak I'm towels no blankets nothing oh freak I'm so scared I do this every day I don't so scared I do this every day I don't so scared I do this every day I don't know why I'm scared all know why I'm scared all know why I'm scared all right ready 3 2 1 oh my [Music] [Music] scores scores scores [Music] [Music] okay oh my okay oh my okay oh my gosh that felt so long I never do 3 gosh that felt so long I never do 3 gosh that felt so long I never do 3 minutes oh my head's going numb my minutes oh my head's going numb my minutes oh my head's going numb my body's numb how hour complete let me body's numb how hour complete let me body's numb how hour complete let me tell you after 1 hour I was already tell you after 1 hour I was already tell you after 1 hour I was already starting to second guess this challenge starting to second guess this challenge starting to second guess this challenge I mean honestly 3 minutes just felt like

02:00I mean honestly 3 minutes just felt like I mean honestly 3 minutes just felt like an eternity in that freezing water I an eternity in that freezing water I an eternity in that freezing water I swear I literally just got done getting swear I literally just got done getting swear I literally just got done getting ready probably 5 minutes ago I checked ready probably 5 minutes ago I checked ready probably 5 minutes ago I checked the time it's time for another the time it's time for another the time it's time for another shower all right I'm not getting my hair shower all right I'm not getting my hair shower all right I'm not getting my hair W bro I just got ready it's a normal day W bro I just got ready it's a normal day W bro I just got ready it's a normal day I still got to stay looking fresh and I still got to stay looking fresh and I still got to stay looking fresh and clean so I'm just doing clean so I'm just doing clean so I'm just doing like here like here like here [Music] down I'm not turning around every time down I'm not turning around every time bro I'm not doing that man this stuff bro I'm not doing that man this stuff bro I'm not doing that man this stuff freaking sneaks up on you I swear I just freaking sneaks up on you I swear I just freaking sneaks up on you I swear I just sat down it's already time for more holy sat down it's already time for more holy sat down it's already time for more holy crap my lip is bad what the crap my lip is bad what the crap my lip is bad what the freak we back at it I just know this freak we back at it I just know this freak we back at it I just know this going to suck so bad at night so from my going to suck so bad at night so from my going to suck so bad at night so from my calculations it is taking me about 5 or calculations it is taking me about 5 or calculations it is taking me about 5 or so minutes to warm up so essentially we so minutes to warm up so essentially we so minutes to warm up so essentially we have an 8 minute cycle here and then my have an 8 minute cycle here and then my have an 8 minute cycle here and then my heart calms down about 50 minutes ler oh heart calms down about 50 minutes ler oh heart calms down about 50 minutes ler oh all right bro I got my phone set up over all right bro I got my phone set up over all right bro I got my phone set up over there in case you're wondering how to there in case you're wondering how to there in case you're wondering how to keep ins time

03:00this doesn't get any easier I figured I should probably show easier I figured I should probably show you me sitting here recovering from this you me sitting here recovering from this you me sitting here recovering from this basically what it looks like I don't got basically what it looks like I don't got basically what it looks like I don't got pants on right now I show you my whole pants on right now I show you my whole pants on right now I show you my whole body I just stand here just like this body I just stand here just like this body I just stand here just like this and within about 5 minutes I'm feeling and within about 5 minutes I'm feeling and within about 5 minutes I'm feeling all right again then I get dressed and I all right again then I get dressed and I all right again then I get dressed and I go about my day as normal just an go about my day as normal just an go about my day as normal just an average day with your boy average day with your boy average day with your boy my upper body is so tense bro few hours my upper body is so tense bro few hours my upper body is so tense bro few hours in currently 4:00 just got all done with in currently 4:00 just got all done with in currently 4:00 just got all done with my last one quick little update I'm my last one quick little update I'm my last one quick little update I'm freaking freezing that's what it comes freaking freezing that's what it comes freaking freezing that's what it comes down to I'm I'm cold very cold at this down to I'm I'm cold very cold at this down to I'm I'm cold very cold at this point I began to worry just a bit if I point I began to worry just a bit if I point I began to worry just a bit if I was struggling this bad now then I can was struggling this bad now then I can was struggling this bad now then I can only imagine what the night time is only imagine what the night time is only imagine what the night time is going to be like but regardless I'm back going to be like but regardless I'm back going to be like but regardless I'm back I guess I'm getting ready for bed so I guess I'm getting ready for bed so I guess I'm getting ready for bed so this is the first nighttime shower it is this is the first nighttime shower it is this is the first nighttime shower it is 11:00 p.m. I only have 9 hours left is

04:0011:00 p.m. I only have 9 hours left is 11:00 p.m. I only have 9 hours left is that right I could be tripping but as that right I could be tripping but as that right I could be tripping but as you can tell I got my red lights on you can tell I got my red lights on you can tell I got my red lights on trying to make it so I can hopefully trying to make it so I can hopefully trying to make it so I can hopefully fall asleep at least have a tiny chance fall asleep at least have a tiny chance fall asleep at least have a tiny chance of falling asleep I'm not too tired I'm of falling asleep I'm not too tired I'm of falling asleep I'm not too tired I'm getting freaking shocks every single getting freaking shocks every single getting freaking shocks every single time I'm doing this but it is what it is time I'm doing this but it is what it is time I'm doing this but it is what it is all all all [Music] [Music] right 10 right 10 right 10 seconds oh my God that 10 seconds is a seconds oh my God that 10 seconds is a seconds oh my God that 10 seconds is a long time long time long time though I'm going to bed good night and some I'm going to bed good night and some sleep is great and all but we all know sleep is great and all but we all know sleep is great and all but we all know the worst part about it waking up let the worst part about it waking up let the worst part about it waking up let alone when you got to do it repeatedly alone when you got to do it repeatedly alone when you got to do it repeatedly for a YouTube video but hey we both made for a YouTube video but hey we both made for a YouTube video but hey we both made it this far oh my gosh okay I do know I don't want to get cold okay I do know I don't want to get cold oh the morning I think can barely fall oh the morning I think can barely fall oh the morning I think can barely fall asleep I think I just got like 20 asleep I think I just got like 20 asleep I think I just got like 20 minutes of sleep or something which is minutes of sleep or something which is minutes of sleep or something which is is pretty good but my heart

05:00is pretty good but my heart is pretty good but my heart is my arms are hurting for some reason is my arms are hurting for some reason is my arms are hurting for some reason but my heart just goes crazy so when I but my heart just goes crazy so when I but my heart just goes crazy so when I lay down it takes me forever to wind lay down it takes me forever to wind lay down it takes me forever to wind down and be able to actually fall asleep down and be able to actually fall asleep down and be able to actually fall asleep that's what I'm struggling with right that's what I'm struggling with right that's what I'm struggling with right now but other than that cold showers now but other than that cold showers now but other than that cold showers same [Music] old I feel like it's colder right old I feel like it's colder right old I feel like it's colder right now M my pain inside I'm not the only one M my pain inside I'm not the only one going through it bro look at how many going through it bro look at how many going through it bro look at how many freaking Footprints there are I'm freaking Footprints there are I'm freaking Footprints there are I'm putting this new bathroom to the test as putting this new bathroom to the test as putting this new bathroom to the test as well the night times of the challenges well the night times of the challenges well the night times of the challenges are the worst part it givs me are the worst part it givs me are the worst part it givs me reconsidering everything I've ever done reconsidering everything I've ever done reconsidering everything I've ever done in my entire life let me tell you though in my entire life let me tell you though in my entire life let me tell you though the best feeling the best feeling in the the best feeling the best feeling in the the best feeling the best feeling in the whole world is getting done with my whole world is getting done with my whole world is getting done with my shower warming up putting my clothes on shower warming up putting my clothes on shower warming up putting my clothes on and getting in bed and tucking in baby and getting in bed and tucking in baby and getting in bed and tucking in baby who the the freak even invented cold

06:00who the the freak even invented cold who the the freak even invented cold water like what the oh my gosh I'm going insane bro holy the oh my gosh I'm going insane bro holy freak doesn't even feel like real life freak doesn't even feel like real life freak doesn't even feel like real life at this point I think I was actually at this point I think I was actually at this point I think I was actually going a bit insane but as the great going a bit insane but as the great going a bit insane but as the great David gin says who's going to carry the David gin says who's going to carry the David gin says who's going to carry the boats or something like that you will boats or something like that you will boats or something like that you will never freaking believe it it is never freaking believe it it is never freaking believe it it is currently 8 a.m. meaning this is the currently 8 a.m. meaning this is the currently 8 a.m. meaning this is the last cold shower of the challenge and last cold shower of the challenge and last cold shower of the challenge and I'm very curious to see how I feel that I'm very curious to see how I feel that I'm very curious to see how I feel that to this a few days down the line is it to this a few days down the line is it to this a few days down the line is it going to do me right guess we'll find going to do me right guess we'll find going to do me right guess we'll find out I feel like I've been doing this out I feel like I've been doing this out I feel like I've been doing this forever according to My Wo band I was forever according to My Wo band I was forever according to My Wo band I was just looking I have gotten a grand total just looking I have gotten a grand total just looking I have gotten a grand total over the night so far I'm going to go over the night so far I'm going to go over the night so far I'm going to go back to sleep after this 3 hours 12 back to sleep after this 3 hours 12 back to sleep after this 3 hours 12 minutes so obviously I'm going back to minutes so obviously I'm going back to minutes so obviously I'm going back to bed after this okay I can do this bro nasty three bro nasty three two two two one

07:00don't feel real right now I'm going to don't feel real right now I'm going to bed I'll see you in a few days for the bed I'll see you in a few days for the bed I'll see you in a few days for the results so it has been 3 days since my results so it has been 3 days since my results so it has been 3 days since my cold shower adventure and let me just cold shower adventure and let me just cold shower adventure and let me just say that was probably the worst thing say that was probably the worst thing say that was probably the worst thing I've ever done in my life honestly I I've ever done in my life honestly I I've ever done in my life honestly I didn't notice too much of a difference didn't notice too much of a difference didn't notice too much of a difference which I didn't really expect to this was which I didn't really expect to this was which I didn't really expect to this was more of just a mental challenge I wanted more of just a mental challenge I wanted more of just a mental challenge I wanted to try I do believe coach showers are a to try I do believe coach showers are a to try I do believe coach showers are a really good thing but you don't have to really good thing but you don't have to really good thing but you don't have to take one every hour for 24 hours for take one every hour for 24 hours for take one every hour for 24 hours for results you're results you're results you're welcome welcome welcome [Music]

Transcript by Tealeaf 🌿  |  YouTube

Contrast Collective | YouTube

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

In recent years, cold exposure has emerged as a prominent trend in wellness circles, touted for its potential benefits in recovery and resilience. But what happens when one commits to an extreme challenge, such as taking cold showers every hour for 24 hours? This exploration not only tests physical endurance but also delves into the mental fortitude required to face discomfort head-on.

One individual undertook this challenge, aiming to assess the real effects of cold exposure (more on this here) while pushing the boundaries of personal resilience. With each cold shower lasting three minutes and no immediate warming allowed afterward, the experience proved to be both enlightening and grueling. The results? A mix of insights about the nature of cold therapy and the limits of mental endurance.

24 Total hours of cold showers taken 3 Minutes per cold shower 3 Total hours of sleep during the challenge

Challenge Overview

The challenge involved taking a cold shower every hour for a full day, a commitment that quickly revealed its demanding nature. Starting at 9 a.m. and continuing through the night, the participant faced the icy water without any warming aids. Each shower lasted three minutes, a duration that felt significantly longer when submerged in cold water.

As the hours progressed, the mental aspect of the challenge became increasingly evident. "This is probably the worst thing I've ever done in my life," the participant remarked, highlighting the psychological hurdles that accompanied the physical strain. The commitment to this ritual was not just about the cold exposure; it was also a test of willpower and mental endurance.

"This is probably the worst thing I've ever done in my life." — Participant

Experience During the Challenge

The experience was marked by a cycle of cold exposure followed by a natural recovery period. After each shower, the participant noted the need for time to warm up, usually taking about five minutes before feeling somewhat normal again. This cycle of cold and recovery can be understood through the lens of thermoregulation—the body’s ability to maintain its core temperature despite external conditions.

During the challenge, the participant experienced significant discomfort, especially during nighttime showers. "The night times of the challenges are the worst part," they noted, reflecting on the mental strain of repeated cold exposure. The struggle to find equilibrium between discomfort and recovery was palpable, emphasizing the mental resilience required to endure such a demanding protocol.

Reflections After the Challenge

After completing the challenge, the participant reflected on the overall impact of the experience. Surprisingly, they found little noticeable difference in terms of physical benefits. "You don't have to take one every hour for 24 hours for results," they concluded, suggesting that while cold showers can be beneficial, extreme frequency is not necessary to reap the rewards.

This insight aligns with existing research on cold exposure, which indicates that even brief, regular exposure can enhance recovery and resilience without the need for extreme measures. The participant's journey serves as a reminder that wellness practices should be intentional and tailored to individual needs, rather than dictated by trends.

Words Worth Hearing

"You don't have to take one every hour for 24 hours for results." — Participant "The best feeling in the whole world is getting done with my shower and warming up." — Participant

We have an 8-minute cycle here, and my heart calms down about 50 minutes later.

Practical Takeaways

  1. Consider incorporating cold exposure into your wellness routine, but focus on frequency and duration that feel right for you.

  2. Recognize the mental challenges that accompany physical discomfort, and approach them with intentionality and resilience.

Contrast Collective | YouTube