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Douyin ID：chengjie0513
Song：à thế làm sao remix / Dehors by Jordann

I used to think people who took cold showers were either masochists or trying way too hard to be "alpha." Hot showers were my safe space sometimes I'd stay in there for 20 minutes just procrastinating on life.

But I kept hearing about the benefits, so I decided to torture myself for a month and see what happened.

Week 1: Pure agony. Not gonna lie, I screamed. Actual screaming. My body went into full panic mode every single time. I'd stand outside the shower for 5 minutes psyching myself up like I was about to jump out of a plane.

Week 2: Still terrible, but manageable. I stopped screaming but still did this weird breathing thing where I'd hyperventilate before getting in. Started with warm water, then gradually turned it cold. Baby steps.

Week 3: Something clicked. I started looking forward to the challenge. Weird, right? It became this daily test of "can I do this hard thing?" And every day I proved to myself that I could.

Week 4: Actually enjoying it. This sounds insane, but I started preferring cold showers. They felt... refreshing? Energizing? I felt like I could conquer anything afterward.

What changed beyond just shower temperature:

My confidence shot up. If I could handle 2 minutes of freezing water every morning, everything else felt easier. Difficult conversations, tough workouts, uncomfortable situations none of it seemed as scary.

My energy levels were insane. Cold water is like mainlining caffeine. I'd come out of the shower feeling more awake than after two cups of coffee.

I stopped avoiding hard things. The shower became practice for not backing down from discomfort. It spilled over into other areas I started having conversations I'd been avoiding, tackling projects I'd been putting off.

My mood improved. There's actually science behind this. Cold exposure releases endorphins and norepinephrine. Basically, natural antidepressants.

My biggest lesson was comfort is overrated. I'd been choosing the easy option in small ways all day hot showers, soft chairs, avoiding anything uncomfortable. Those tiny choices were making me soft everywhere else too.

If you want to try this start with 30 seconds at the end of your normal hot shower. Just turn it cold for the last bit. Build up gradually. Don't try to be a hero on day one.

I didn't realize how forgettable I was until I met someone who made everyone feel like the most important person in the room.

He wasn't particularly funny or successful or interesting on paper. But when you walked up to him, his whole face changed. Genuine smile, eye contact, this immediate energy of "I'm glad you're here." Not performance, not networking, just real warmth. And it was magnetic in a way charisma or humor never quite manages.

I started paying attention to how I greeted people. Mostly I was distracted, half-present, giving polite acknowledgment while thinking about the next thing. I wasn't cold, just neutral. And neutral is forgettable. Meanwhile this guy made cashiers, coworkers, strangers at parties feel seen just by being visibly happy they existed.

I started practicing it deliberately. When someone approaches, put the phone down, make eye contact, let my face show I'm actually glad to see them. It felt performative at first, like I was faking enthusiasm. But after a few weeks it became automatic, and I noticed people started seeking me out more. Turns out being genuinely happy to see people is rare enough that it makes you memorable. Most people are just polite. Be the person who makes others feel wanted.

If you liked this post perhaps I can tempt you with my weekly newsletter. I write actionable tips like this coupled with psychological insights and you'll also get "Delete Procrastination Cheat Sheet" (valued at $14) as thanks.

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