4 Ways Showering in the Morning Can Improve Your Mental Health
From the chemicals in your brain to your overall mood and sense of self, showers first thing in the morning can have a positive impact on your mental health and here is how:
They can lead to positive chemical changes in the brain. There has been some evidence that points to the fact that taking a shower, especially a cooler one, can cause chemical changes in the brain that lead to positive outcomes. The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine did a small study that showed cold showers can actually help the brain make noradrenaline, which helps give a sense of alertness and energy. When one is depressed, fatigue and exhaustion is a common symptom and one of the hardest to deal with. Taking a cold shower in the morning can lower melatonin levels, which can make a person feeling sluggish feel more energized. A hot shower on the other hand can help you feel relaxed and ease anxiety, another study shows. The hot water coupled with the light pressure of the shower water touching the skin can increase oxytocin levels, which can have a calming effect and decrease anxiety.
They can soothe sore muscles and relieve tension. Taking a hot shower can soothe sore or stiff muscles, which can in turn improve one’s state of mind. Mental illness, especially general anxiety disorder, can cause extreme muscle tension and fatigue, so needless to say, a fast way to feel some physical and mental relief can be to take a hot shower.
They can provide aromatherapy. Do you have a favorite scent that makes you feel happy? Nostalgic? Calm? Adding your favorite scents to your shower routine can have relaxing benefits. Those who struggle with depression and anxiety can benefit from aromatherapy as the sense of smell can help one feel more grounded and calm. “Smells also help with self soothing and managing difficult emotions,” says Dr. of Psychology Tahney Johnston. This is really beneficial to mental health as it assists people in mindfulness. Candles, essential oils and fancy handmade soaps and scrubs are great ways to boost your mood in the shower first thing in the morning.
They can give you a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning. If you’ve ever read the book Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven, you may remember how he stresses that the simple task of making your bed when you wake up can start your day with a sense of accomplishment. While taking a shower (or making your bed) may seem insignificant, the psychology behind this idea is that a task being completed at the start of your day can have a positive effect on how the rest of your day goes. Taking a shower first thing can make you feel more motivated to seize the day. When you’re in a depression spell, showering can seem like a monumental and overwhelming task, but if you make it a point to get in the shower even when you don’t feel like it, you may be surprised by feeling a little more positive and maybe even a little happier.
Whether you are a fellow mental health warrior or are just simply looking for ways to boost your mental health, taking a shower first thing in the morning is a simple and effective way to help improve your mental status, even if only for a period of time.
We’d love to know: Do you notice a positive difference when you shower first thing in the morning? Comment below!
