As the ’ber months come in full force, the thought of taking a shower in the cold weather can feel intimidating at times. There’s the added step of having to heat up water or otherwise face the wrath of an ice-cold bath. As tempting as it is to skip the daily rinse, here are five reasons why you ought to wash yourself even during the cooler season.

Your skin needs to stay healthy

Cold weather can be harsh on the skin. It can cause flaking, dryness, or irritation. Showering daily helps keep our bodies clean by ridding it of dead skin cells, sweat, and bacteria. Germs tend to thrive in colder climates due to how the cooler weather slows down mucus passage through our noses. This leaves an opening for viruses to enter our bodies.

Boost immunity and circulation

While maintaining cleanliness is the primary goal of taking a shower, it also benefits our overall health.  Taking a warm shower can help in blood circulation. This is vital as the colder seasons can affect how our blood vessels function due to the low temperatures and reduced movement. Having good circulation also helps in letting oxygen and nutrients flow better within our body. We also fend off the likeliness of catching a seasonal illness when our circulation is improved.

 Providing relief to the body

Taking a warm shower can act as a natural therapy for your body to recover from the stiff joints and muscle soreness caused by the cold. As such, this lets your muscles loosen up and feel more relaxed throughout the day. This leads to less stress overall and allows your body to function properly.

Improved mood 

Taking a shower can be a meditative process for some. As the cold weather brings longer nights and higher likelihood of staying indoors to keep warm, there’s a higher chance for us to be affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the “winter blues.” Use your time in the shower to reflect on the good memories and letting yourself get lost in the gentle rain of water on your body. Keeping a regular shower schedule allows you to feel more at ease and have a daily routine to look forward to and keep your mind focused on other things.  

Better sleep quality

Who here enjoys a nice bath before going to sleep? After a long day, it can be relaxing to just rinse yourself off and blow off some steam. Having a warm shower before bedtime allows your body to ease itself into a relaxed state and prepare it for a well-deserved rest. When our sleep quality is at its best, so too is the performance of our body.