I’ve started adding cold showers to my morning routine. Come find out why?

You know how much I love a good morning routine and how I’m always tweaking mine and adding in new beauty and wellness rituals. Well after listening to Rawbeautytalks latest podcast episode with Wim Hof a.k.a the iceman, I am now starting my morning with an icy cold shower.Before you roll your eyes at me and think I’ve got crazy just hear me out.

By starting your day with a cold shower you’re doing a few incredible things for your body and mind, such as;

• Increasing your immune system
• Helping your body to deal with stress and learn to breathe through it
• Waking your body up (like seriously you’ve never felt more awake than after a cold shower)
• Reducing inflammation
• Balancing hormone levels
• Improving sleep quality
• Producing endorphins
• Energizing your body for the day
• Reeving up your metabolism

Isn’t that amazing!What I love about this is it can be completed in just 2-3 minutes which is such a game-changer. Let’s be honest as busy mums we don’t have time to take on 30-60 minute wellness rituals each morning.We need quick, effective, energizing tools that we can add to our morning to put a kick in our step, and let me tell you this ice-cold shower will do just that.I’ve been doing it every morning for the last two weeks and I’m honestly loving it. I’ve even got Matt adding it into his morning which is so cool.

Pre Cold Shower Ritual

Before I hop in the shower each morning I always dry body brush my whole body. This is a fantastic way to stimulate your lymphatic system which is essential for a healthy body. Dry body brushing is also great for circulation and beautiful smooth skin. It only takes a few minutes and is another great way to energize you and wake you up.

Cold Shower Ritual

What I’ve been doing is having my normal hot shower and then at the very end I turn the shower to freezing cold and I stand under it. The goal is to focus on your breath, calm your mind and try to breathe through it. It's definitely challenging but I’ve found even after only two short weeks I’ve gotten so much better at it and I can now stay under the cold shower for three minutes. I then hop straight out and I’m ready for the day.

Post Cold Shower Ritual

After my cold shower I get dressed, apply my natural skincare and makeup and then I have a big lemon water to wake up my digestive system and hydrate after a big sleep. Then it’s all go and time to make breakfast, do the washing,  put away dishes, and basically into full mum mode.

Being a Role Model

The other morning Georgia came into the bathroom while I was doing my cold water shower and she started cracking up. I suppose I did look rather silly jumping around trying to adjust to the cold.Anyways she was loving it and I thought to myself what an incredible opportunity to teach Georgia a new tool that she can use when she’s older. I love the idea that she will grow up knowing how important it is to look after herself and that she will have a list of tools that she learned from me of how to do just that. This is why I’m always rolling out my yoga mat next to her, talking about my meditations, showing her my Gua Sha stone and how I use it, and talking about the nourishing food I make and why I love them.I hope this has inspired you to do the same and to get your little ones involved in your wellness rituals as much as possible. It may not be quite as relaxing but it’s fun and such an incredible way to show your children how to look after themselves.

A Cold Shower Challenge for you

Ok back to cold showers. Now I know it's only been two weeks and we are in Summer but I’m excited to build on this practice and to commit to it as part of my morning and I hope you decide to join me on this little adventure as well.If you’re at all interested in learning more about adding cold showers to your morning then I highly recommend listening to Rawbeautytalks podcast episode with Wim Hof here or Theskinnyconfidential Him and Her podcast with Wim Hof here.I’ve even purchased his book  and I’m excited to dive into it over Summer.You will 100% be inspired by his incredible story and journey and I hope you challenge yourself to try something new and to see the difference you can feel when you take small little steps each day to be your best self.Renee x