What's Best - Hot Shower or Cold Shower in Peak Winters?

What? Is this even a question!

When most places in Northern India are experiencing sub 5⁰ C as minimum temperature, who is gonna take cold showers!

That's what many of us think, who have a facility of hot water at the press of a button. But not all the people are this lucky.

In fact, electric or gas geysers, solar water heaters or even immersion rods are all inventions of modern society. And we take a hot shower for granted.

When water was boiled on wood fired stove, it was very precious and many households didn't had any hot water for bathing purposes.

But even when we have hot water very accessible, I know several people who still prefer to take a cold shower. I think, Ayurveda also recommends to take bath in cold water. It's said that bathing in cold water is good for health.

So how many of you have the courage to take a cold shower in peak winter season?

Yes, I agree if water is too hot, it will be harmful to our skin and should be avoided. In fact, we shouldn't call it as hot shower. Rather we should call it as Warm Shower.

I believe, it's good to take a shower with water at body temperature i.e. 37 degrees ...or may be slightly warmer than that at most.

People tend to spend too much time in hot shower compared to cold shower which results in draining of lot of hot water.

I've observed that the time spent in bathroom is directly proportional to the luxuries in the bathroom. If you go to a hotel room with a big attached bathroom fitted with a huge tub, all jacuzzis, sauna, aroma therapy etc. facilities; it will be difficult to come out of bathroom in as little time as you spend in a bathroom with bare minimum facility (like just a bucket full of water, a mug and no running water connection).

Does this mean luxurious bathroom kill more of your time and resources?
Should we go for a basic bathroom with a cold shower to make it more environmentally-friendly and healthy for us?

If you ask me, I'd avoid to take bath if there is no hot water in winters. I did try cold water showers when I was young but I don't think I can do that any more. You may call this as my mental fear but the truth is that my mind, body and soul all fear a cold shower in this season 😊