In this day and age, our health often takes the backseat as we try to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle. However, it is our most valuable asset so we should actively take care of it day after day. One of the things you must practice in order to preserve your health is good personal hygiene. Personal hygiene is a prerequisite for health – not only physical health but even mental health. You should prioritize both of these things in the new year in order to live a more fulfilled life. Here are a few tips that should help you keep your personal hygiene top-notch and take care of yourself.
The benefits of good hygiene
Most people know that hygiene is important. We wake up, wash our faces, brush our teeth, take a shower, and dress in clean clothes. This is what we were taught since we were children so we rarely think about it. By keeping our bodies clean, we lower our chances of spreading disease-causing germs. By keeping ourselves clean, we are protecting not only ourselves but also the people around us.
In addition to this, good personal hygiene is necessary if you want to nurture positive social relationships. Personal hygiene is important for your self-esteem: grooming yourself will make you feel better about yourself and this kind of self-love is a basis of good mental health. Simply getting up and taking a shower when you’re feeling down might give a momentary boost to your mood. But your personal hygiene levels are also important in how other people see you. People with poor personal hygiene will likely be avoided by others, which will result in negative social experiences and ultimately, loneliness. Therefore, it is clear that taking care of yourself is essential for both health and social reasons.
Hand washing
First and foremost, as you might have already guessed, hand washing is a pillar of good personal hygiene. We use our hands for all kinds of things throughout the day so naturally, they carry a lot of germs we have to get rid of. This was true even before the COVID-19 pandemic but it is undeniable that today, it is even more important to take hand washing seriously. You should wash your hands before touching any food, before picking up a baby, after using the toilet, handling trash, coughing or sneezing (although, ideally, you won’t be coughing or sneezing into your hands but into your elbow), and after touching an animal.
The pandemic has also instilled in us that we should refrain from touching high-traffic surfaces such as grab bars, door handles, and the likes whenever we can, and we should wash our hand’s first thing after arriving home. Use regular soap when washing your hands and always carry hand sanitizer with you to lower the risk of infections. Don’t forget to also dry your hands appropriately as germs tend to stick to wet hands easily – steer clear of wiping your hands on your clothes though.
Bathe regularly
The next important personal hygiene tip that everyone should stick to is washing one’s body regularly. Due to sweating, bacteria tend to gather on our bodies, causing body odor. Take a shower once a day (or twice if the weather is hot) using your choice of soap or other shower product. It will do away with the bacteria and make you feel fresh. It will also help prevent skin irritation and remove dead skin cells.
As for your hair, how often you should wash it is not as clear-cut. In fact, a lot of people tend to overdo this hygiene practice, which is not good for their hair and scalp in the long term. You might damage your hair by over washing it, and irritate your scalp, resulting in dandruff. So, make sure that you listen to your own needs above any magazine’s advice and find mild products that won’t dry out your scalp. Nevertheless, you should certainly wash your hair when it’s “dirty.” By this, we mean physical dirt, sweat from workouts, pollen that can aggravate allergies, styling products, and so on.
Take care of your dental hygiene
Dental health is a key aspect of overall health. Therefore, proper dental hygiene should be at the top of your priority list. Brushing your teeth twice a day will remove excess bacteria and food residue that can lead to tooth decay if they remain untended. In addition, gum disease is a real threat to your health, so you should minimize your risks of developing it as much as possible. So, flossing is another habit that you should take up if you have been skipping it until now. The bristles of your toothbrush won’t be able to remove all the residue from between your teeth, which is what floss is for. Actually, it is recommended that you floss before brushing your teeth as opposed to after it.
What you should also remember is that bacteria can also multiply on your toothbrush. This is why it’s essential that you keep it in a clean, dry place to minimize this as much as possible. Nevertheless, you still need to replace your toothbrush on a regular basis as it tends to wear out after some time. Three months should be an ideal interval to do this. Make sure you pick a toothbrush that is not too harsh on your gums: it can irritate your gums, which can lead to inflammation. Visit your dentist regularly for checkups to keep any problem under control.
Your skin and nails
Tending to our skin and nails is not just a question of beauty; it’s also a part of personal hygiene. First of all, make sure you always remove all your makeup before going to bed. You don’t want to clog your pores and face irritation and acne as a result. After using makeup remover, make sure you also use a mild face cleanser that will remove any residue and oil from your skin while not drying it out too much. Moisturize regularly, not only your face but your body as well. Pay special attention to your hands during the winter months as the cold can dry out your skin so much that it might crack.
As for your nails, it’s important to keep them neat and tidy. Long nails have the potential to accumulate dirt underneath, so if that is a concern for you, it’s a better idea to keep your nails short. If you’d still like to wear your nails long, make sure you scrub underneath them when you’re washing your hands to remove any dirt. Needless to say, biting your nails is out of the question.
Feminine hygiene considerations
Women have additional hygiene considerations to keep in mind. First of all, you should always wear breathable underwear to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and the risk of infection. Cotton is an ideal material for this. When you work out or go swimming, make sure you change your sweaty clothes/wet swimsuit for dry underwear for the same reason. Secondly, you should know that your vagina is self-cleansing – in fact, you should never use harsh cleansers that could throw off your pH balance.
During that time of the month, you should take care of your personal hygiene even more. Make sure you change your sanitary product regularly and only do it with clean hands. It’s difficult to feel clean and fresh at all times when you’re on your period. What you can do is consider upgrades such as a bidet or a smart toilet seat that will boost your cleanliness and comfort, as well as help you steer clear of infections down the line.
Don’t get too close with your pets
Finally, a hygiene consideration that many of us will not like is not getting too up close and personal with our pets. No matter how much we love them, we do not need the bacteria from their mouths on us – just remember all the things your puppy puts in their mouth and it might convince you.
In any case, make sure you take good care of your pet, as well as keep them clean to reduce the chances of them bringing some harmful germs into your home. Always wash your hands after petting your furball and don’t let them near your food or on your kitchen counter. Learn more about how you can boost the hygiene around your pets so that you can rest assured you and your family are safe from harm.
Personal hygiene is an essential part of your overall health, so if you are to prioritize your health this new year, then this is where you should start. Although we all have been taught about personal hygiene when we were young, it’s a good idea to learn more about it and correct our habits if we deem it necessary.
About The Author
My name is Grace Wilson. I’m a 27-year-old biotechnologist and kind of a bookish girl. Surfing the Internet is my favorite, that’s why I’ve turned into blogging. Following a healthy mindset and lifestyle is what I consider my life principle. If interested, follow my Twitter.
