Who doesn’t love a nice, hot shower after working a long day? While the idea does likely seem nice to most, some opt for a morning shower, a bathing ritual which can be just as refreshing–but it doesn’t come with all of the benefits of the former. And, to make it even more surprising, that evening shower needs to be performed at exactly the right time for the rewards to be reaped.

Confused yet? Let us explain…

Dr. Dianne Augelli of the Center for Sleep Medicine at the New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center points to several studies stating that showering before bed can do a lot of good in the forms of improved sleep quality and overall relaxation, but the trick is to not shower DIRECTLY BEFORE you hit the hay as it could negatively affect your nighttime routine.

“You don’t want to heat yourself up right before bed,” Dr. Augelli says. “Cooling down is a signal that tells us we’re supposed to go to sleep.”

So, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll have caught on to the fact that subjecting yourself to a scalding hot shower right before hopping into bed could actually end up waking you up. This is because body temperature is one of the key factors that dictate circadian rhythm, a biological process that communicates whether you’re alert or tired.

Luckily, there most definitely is a way to make that luxurious hot shower–or bath!–work for you. All you need to do is take the hot shower about an hour and a half before you hit the sheets. This gives your body ample opportunity to cool down so that you can get the restful night’s sleep that you deserve.

And, once you’re safely ensconced in that comfy blanket burrito you’ve made for yourself, you’ll now have the opportunity to enjoy important nighttime gains such as the aforementioned improved sleep quality, as well as some very unexpected physical benefits.

Believe it or not, the phrase “beauty sleep” holds a more varied meaning than we had previously believed. Of course, getting the requisite ‘zzzs’ that you need usually yields brighter eyes and fewer bags, but, according to research compiled by the National Sleep Foundation, taking a hot shower when you are winding down will also help to rev up your beauty products.

The Foundation says that washing your face while in the shower before bed can help your beauty creams and nighttime moisturizers work better than if they are just applied to normally-cleansed skin. Additionally, studies have shown that this hot shower can also clear your skin, reduce potential breakouts, and even stop wrinkles from forming.

Now, it’s important to note that showering in the morning also has its benefits; it can boost your mood and give you more energy throughout the day. All-around helpful info, if we’ve ever heard it. Shower happy–and strategically,– folks!

We’d love to hear your take on nighttime showering. Are you a PM or AM showerer? Does this research change your mind? Do you prefer baths to showers?

Source: Real Simple