"I do my best thinking in the shower." Someone said to me recently. I could not agree more. There is just something about a shower that is relaxing, resetting, and reinvigorating.
Showers help promote relaxation. Warm water can help relieve muscle soreness (USA Sunny Showers, 2023). Cold water, on the other hand can help reduce inflammation and improve mood (UCLA Health, 2023). The sound of water itself is thought to be soothing (Thoma et al., 2018). Many people use pleasantly scented bath products in the shower. Showering is often a time for practicing self-care and self-compassion (Connolly, ). In all of these ways, showering is kind of an all-in-one relaxation package.
Showers can help reset as well. With novel sensory stimuli, they can help to reset the sensory system and reduce stress (Moody, 2026). Changing location changes stressors, so just moving the body to get to the shower helps reset (Neff, 2022). Being in the shower also refreshes and helps provide perspective.
Sometimes insights come in the shower. Maybe it is because of the relaxation. Maybe it is the rest. Or maybe it is simply being away from all the noise and stimuli of everyday life. Besides the water (unless people listen to music during a shower), the shower is a place of quiet, something rare to find these days (Calm, n.d.). Maybe, as Emily Solberg (n.d.) states, this is why "best ideas come...in the shower." There's just something about it.
Obviously, showers do not fix everything, but there is something about them. Maybe try one today? (But if you have sensory struggles and hate showering, maybe find another way to relax, reset, and reinvigorate?)
References:
Calm. (n.d.). The benefits of silence and how to create a quiet time ritual. https://www.calm.com/blog/benefits-of-silence.
Connolly, J. (Host). (2024, January 28). 10 ways to chase down joy. (no. 240 [Audio podcast episode]. In The Jess Connolly podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-24-10-ways-to-chase-down-joy/id1437912225?i=1000643319406
Moody, L. (Host). (2026, February 16). How to instantly reset your brain (when everything feels like too much) (n. 401) [Audio podcast episode]. In The Liz Moody podcast. https://www.lizmoody.com/thelizmoodypodcast-reset/
Neff, A. (2022, August 1). Nervous system reset: 13 effective ways to reset your nervous system. Neurodivergent insights. https://neurodivergentinsights.com/13-ways-to-reset-your-nervous-system/?srsltid=AfmBOop_jar3YfqqX5u2cfdeTL97v2dj5sk9wvYm7ilmlfY5MGpyO1wQ
Solberg, E. (n.d.). About. Shower arguments with Emily Solberg. https://showerarguments.substack.com/about
Thoma, M. V., Mewes, R., & Nater, U. M. (2018). Preliminary evidence: the stress-reducing effect of listening to water sounds depends on somatic complaints: A randomized trial. Medicine, 97(8), e9851. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000009851
UCLA Health. (2023, January 25). 6 cold shower benefits to consider. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/6-cold-shower-benefits-consider
USA Sunny Showers. (2023, October 25). The healing benefits of water: How showering benefits your health. Sunny showers USA. https://sunnyshowerusainc.com/blogs/sunny-shower/the-healing-power-of-water-how-showering-benefits-your-health
