It’s funny how the smallest new habits can change how we feel and deal with situations. Being quite new to self-care and wellbeing, I’m constantly learning new tools to experiment with. Some stick, others don’t. But I know my self-care journey is all about working out what works best for me.

I want to bring you along on this journey with me too. So I thought I would start by sharing some of my tried and tested tools with you.

Self-Care Tip of the Week: The Power of a Good Shower

This week, my self-care tip of the week is….drum roll please…🥁🥁🥁…a good old shower!

Now, before you think I’m crazy/smelly/massively unhygienic, hear me out.

I shower every morning without fail. I can’t function without one. It sets me up perfectly for the day. If I don’t shower and wash my hair, I feel dirty and unable to focus. Especially if I’m at work.

In the summer, or when on holiday, I will often shower twice a day. But, I had never thought about showering twice a day at other times of the year. Maybe because of increasing water bills or the environmental impacts. But after reading about the power of a shower at the weekend, it’s really got me thinking.

Showering to Transition from Work to Home Mode

The idea is to shower in the morning, and then shower again after the working day. Showering as soon as you get home is supposed to help you transition from work mode to home mode. By helping the body and mind to relax, it’s believed it can make your evening more enjoyable. And even give you a better night’s sleep.

So I decided to give it a try.

Monday evening, I came home from work, cooked, and then took a shower. The shower felt heavenly after a day in the office. Afterwards, I swapped my work clothes for my comfy joggers and a baggy sweatshirt. Unfortunately, I still had some work to do after my shower. But, showering after dinner gave me a fresh burst of energy. It allowed me to focus on getting work done without getting side-tracked. I also still had time to catch up on some reading once my laptop was shut. And I have to admit, I slept like a baby that evening.

Last night, I followed a similar ritual, and again, I had a really good night’s sleep.

The Benefits of Showering After Work

Today I finished work a little bit earlier than normal. I had already decided to have a work-free evening, after two long working days earlier in the week. As soon as I got home, I showered. After trekking across London today on the underground and buses, I felt particularly dirty. I stood under the shower for ages as it washed the working day down the plug hole. It completely freed my mind of work. I even had a little chuckle to myself over how good it made me feel!

I’m also keen to see if showering twice a day impacts my skin. As an adult, I have often suffered with lousy skin. I was lucky not to have problem skin in my teens. But living with someone in my 20s who smoked had a deep impact on my skin. To cover my skin, I wear make-up. It sounds obvious but when you throw in London pollution too, it can’t be doing my skin much good. But by showering when I get home from work, I’m not only washing off the grime but also my make-up. Hopefully, this gives my skin a bit more time to breathe before I reapply my foundation the next morning.

The Positive Impact on My Wellbeing

Aside from the financial and environmental impacts, I have noticed real benefits to my wellbeing by showering twice a day. Not only do I feel cleaner, my mind is more relaxed, and my sleep has improved.

So for me, this is one tool I’ll definitely be adding to my toolkit.

Have you discovered any new self-care tips so far this year?