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- Shower Avoidance Syndrome, also known as SAS, is a psychological condition characterized by a persistent aversion or reluctance towards taking showers or baths. While it may sound trivial to some, for individuals experiencing this syndrome, the act of showering can evoke feelings of anxiety, distress, or even panic.
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- “I turn into a hermit. I just want to stay in my home and not go anywhere or see anyone. It’s my safe haven, and I just don’t want to leave it.” — Deanne R.
- “Avoid everything. I ignore my phone, skip appointments or plans, don’t leave my house, stop paying bills, try to avoid talking to anyone. I’ve totally screwed up my life this way — failed classes in college because I couldn’t leave my room.”
- “I pretend I’m tired and napping or sleeping so I can avoid people, but really I stay up all night with the thoughts in my head (or if I do sleep, I have nightmares).
- “I wouldn’t say there are any habits involved other than obsessively trying to figure out why I’m in such agony, how long it will last and what the hell I’m going to do with myself to keep sane in the meantime while having no energy.”
- Eva Taylor Grant
- Best: Morning. Showering in the morning is a bit of a tossup — but generally quite good for your health. You may be exposing yourself to more opportunities to get dirty throughout the day, but there are a variety of special benefits of showering in the morning.
- Worst: Midday. Unlike the morning-versus-night shower debate, showering in the middle of the day is generally agreed upon by experts as suboptimal. "There are few benefits to showering in the middle of the day," Backe says.
- Best: Nighttime. Regardless of your personal preferences, the best of all times to shower is probably at night. "If you want to feel like you’re a master of hygiene, then a nighttime shower is your best bet," Backe says.
- 4: Worst: Nighttime (If You Take Long Showers) While there are some universal truths, your personal shower habits can influence when during the day is the best or worst time to shower.
- Overview
- Getting Yourself into the Shower Right Now
- Building Discipline
- Forcing Yourself to Shower
- Making Showers More Enjoyable
We all know personal hygiene is important, but sometimes it can be hard to make yourself hop in the shower if you just don't feel like it. Maybe you've had a long day and you're tired, or you're bundled up all warm and cozy on the couch and can't face the idea of getting wet. Whatever the situation may be, it can help to know a few tricks that can ...
Sometimes in order to accomplish what feels like a monumental task, you have to start small. For now, just go and turn on the shower. Get the water nice and warm and think about how good it would feel to climb inside. You'll probably find it much easier to shower once you're actually in the bathroom and have everything all ready to go.
The hardest part often lies in simply taking the first step.
Remember, the only thing holding you back is lethargy. With that out of the way, nothing can stop you.
Once you've made it to the bathroom and got the shower running, strip down and see how you feel. At this point, it will probably feel silly to have gone to all that trouble just to shut off the water and put your clothes back on. Since you're already in position, and it requires just as much effort to get dressed again, you might as well go ahead and hop in the shower.
Give yourself a pep talk.
Instead of waiting around until you feel like taking a shower, talk yourself into making the resolution that you're going to do it no matter what, and stick to it. Be your own coach. Give yourself encouraging advice and offer affirmation by making inspiring and affirming statements. You'll start feeling more capable as soon as you shift your attitude from "I don't want to" to "I can do this."
Most of the time when people have a hard time making themselves do something, it's because they dread the effort or they're “not in the mood.” Understand that there will always be things you don't feel like doing in life that have to be done nonetheless.
Saying your own name can make you feel more empowered by allowing you to step outside of yourself momentarily and creating a sense of personal accountability.
Think of it as a challenge.
Put your pride on the line and start looking at overcoming your reluctance to shower as a way to prove yourself. If you can't even bathe yourself, what else won't you be able to do? It may sound silly, but this is an opportunity for personal growth. Show yourself that you can do what you set your mind to and you'll feel more in control of other areas of your life as a result.
Perform an intense workout half an hour before you need to take a shower. You're much more likely to be in favor of a shower if you're sweaty and uncomfortable. Think about how refreshed you'll feel once you're done, or at least how much worse you'll feel (and what people will think) if you don't wash off.
Strenuous exercise dampens your clothes, makes your skin and hair a greasy mess and causes you to smell bad.
Taking a cold or lukewarm shower will help cool you off after a tough workout.
Wait until you can't put it off any longer.
If you have a business meeting, dinner plans or an important event to attend that you need to look your best for, let it get down to the wire so that you have to get in the shower before you can finish getting ready. The closer it gets to time to leave, the more necessary it will be for you to clean up, until you just don't have a choice anymore.
Keep in mind that you might make a bad impression if other people can tell that you haven't bathed.
Take advantage of the chance to relax.
Showering doesn't have to be a hassle. In fact, it can be quite a pleasurable experience. Turn the water up nice and hot and delight in the sensation of the tiny streams prickling your skin. Breathe in the steam and feel its warmth spread through your body. Take your time. It's about enjoying a moment of leisure as much as it is getting clean.
Showering serves as a time out from the rest of the world, giving you a chance to be alone and get some much-needed peace and quiet.
Try not to overdo it—too much time in a hot shower on a regular basis can strip your skin of the healthy, natural oils it needs.
Buy some new bathing supplies.
Stock up on scented soaps or silky body washes, fragrant shampoos and face scrubs or a fluffy new loofah. You'll hardly be able to wait to take a shower if you're excited about pampering yourself. When you use these types of products, you'll also feel totally refreshed once you leave the shower, which can make you look forward to the next one.
Jun 4, 2020 · Learning how to take an efficient shower can help save water, reduce energy costs, and prevent overdry skin. Dermatologists recommend using lukewarm water to support healthy skin...
Jan 2, 2024 · We asked the experts, and as it turns out, there really is a right way to shower. Though you can, of course, lather up however you want, these science-backed tips guarantee softer skin, healthier hair, and a smarter clean. Read on for some a-ha moments ahead of your next ahhh.
Oct 11, 2024 · Discover the best tips for taking a shower efficiently. Learn how to keep it short, choose the right temperature, and maintain healthy skin.
