Morning Shower vs Evening Shower

Written by: Dr. Daniel Corallo, DC
September 12, 2018

Have you ever thought about what time of day is best for your body to have a shower? Let’s review the options to see what’s best for you.

 

Evening Shower

Taking a warm shower before bed can help you sleep. However, the timing of this shower is IMPORTANT! The connection between sleeping and showering before bed has to do with your body temperature. Your body temperature helps regulate your circadian rhythm. In the mornings and afternoon, your body temperature drops, which creates the “sleepy” feeling. Therefore, the evening shower may sound counterintuitive, but after you get out of the shower, your body temperature decreases, which can signal the body that it is time to go to sleep (or make you feel sleepy). The OPTIMAL TIME to shower before bed is 60-90 minutes before bed, to allow enough time for the body to cool down. Lastly, showering at night ensures that you are washing your face, which is essential to maintain healthy skin. 

Morning Shower

Do you like to have a morning shower? Don’t worry! There are several advantages to an AM shower as well.  According to a recent study that came out of Harvard University, taking a shower can help ignite CREATIVITY. Evidence is showing that creative discoveries are occurring more after a period of incubation/sleep or original thought process is followed by a period resting the mind. Therefore, if you have a pressing problem that needs a unique/out of the box solution, letting it stew in the back of your brain and distracting yourself for a short period of time can help you solve it.

Morning showers can be a great opportunity to let your mind wander because it’s a time where you are alert and relaxed at the same time. For the most part, water has a calming effect, removing external stimulation and allows you to have any enlightening moments. In addition, it’s in the mornings when your mind is most likely ready to tackle any obstacles for the day ahead. 

Verdict

So what team wins? It all depends on your goals. If you have trouble going to sleep at night, perhaps taking a night shower may help you to catch some zzz‘ s. If you need some creative problem solving, morning showers may help sharp that lightbulb.