How to Take a Shower if You Don't Want To

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 20, 2023 References Approved

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 give you the willpower you need to scrub up. These tricks are more mental than anything, and only require you to take a different attitude toward the chore of bathing that can make it more enjoyable to you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Yourself into the Shower Right Now

1
Turn on the water. 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.^{[1]
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- 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.
2
Take your clothes off. 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.
- When you're lounging comfortably on the couch, the list of things you need to do to successfully bathe can seem overwhelming. Instead of trying to focus on lots of details at once, move things along a little at a time.
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3
Remind yourself why you need to shower. If you find that you lack the motivation to shower, it can be helpful to keep in mind what happens when you don't bathe regularly. Dirt, oil and dead cells can build up on your skin, making you feel grimy and uncomfortable. If you go too long, this can cause problems like itching, clogged pores and skin infections. After a while, you can start to smell, as well, which can be a source of social embarrassment.^{[2]
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- It can be bad for you to go too long without a bath or shower. Skin conditions like acne, dermatitis and chronic body odor can develop, making you look and feel unhealthy.^{[3]
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- There's no need to shower every day. In fact, dermatologists now believe that it's actually better for you to only shower a few times a week. This may make dealing with the task easier for you.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Building Discipline

1
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."^{[5]
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- 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.^{[6]
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2
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.^{[7]
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- Start making a list of daily goals to accomplish and put showering near the top.^{[8]
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- You'll gain a little more willpower and self-control every time you shower when you don't feel like it.
3
Get in the habit. Once you manage to make yourself shower, do it again the next day at the same time, then the next day, then the next and so on. Don't let yourself skip a day until it's too late. After a week or so, your inertia will start to disappear and showering will become just another part of your normal routine.^{[9]
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- Set a regular bathing schedule for yourself based on your own needs and preferences. Some people might have to shower everyday, whereas others can get by with only a few showers a week, or even once a week. Pick days and times that will make it easier for you to stick to your schedule.
- When showering becomes a habit, you'll start to feel like something's missing if you don't take one.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Forcing Yourself to Shower

1
Do some exercise. 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.^{[10]
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- 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.
2
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.
- Finding compelling reasons to get things done is often more motivating than just feeling like you should.
3
Have a friend help out. Persuade a sibling or close friend to nag you about showering every chance they get. You can get them to ask “have you showered today?” or even scold you for your stubbornness so that you'll feel guilty or embarrassed if you don't get it done. Instruct your helper to be as intrusive and annoying as they need to be in order to push you. Eventually, you'll be eager to rinse off just to shut them up.
- If you're really serious about getting a friend to help keep you accountable, hand over the money in your wallet and tell them not to give it back to you until you've showered.^{[11]
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- It can be tough to do what you need to do when you're the only one watching, but bringing a respected elder or authority figure into the mix can compel you to shape up by causing you to fear the consequences of disappointing them.
4
Set alarms for yourself. Schedule a series of alarms on your phone that will direct you to shower when they go off. If you tend to be forgetful, this will help remind you that you haven't done it yet. If you're just being stubborn, the alarms will serve as a stern, persistent voice demanding that you take care of business. Do you really want the alarms to win? Didn't think so. Take a shower.
- Make the alarms sporadic at first, then set subsequent alarms closer together as it gets closer to whatever time limit you've imposed on yourself (going to bed, getting ready for a date, etc.).
- Alarm reminders can be a great solution if you tend to simply forget to shower.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Showers More Enjoyable

1
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.^{[12]
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2
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.^{[13]
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- Change up the scents and formulas of your bath products every few weeks to keep them from getting old. For example, you might use a fresh-smelling floral body wash during the summer, then switch to an evergreen fragrance for the winter months.
3
Clean your bathroom. It's no fun at all to climb into a shower covered with mold or soap scum with a weak trickle of water pouring out of the shower head and hair clogging the drain. If your facilities are in need of a deep cleaning, it can ruin much of what's rewarding about bathing for you. Give everything a good wipe down and see if you can still resist that spotless, inviting shine.^{[14]
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- To prevent mildew and keep your bathing environment sanitary and inviting, aim to clean your shower every 2-3 weeks.^{[15]
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- Mix up a quick, organic cleaning solution using two parts white vinegar and one part warm water. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a more pleasant scent.^{[16]
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4
Put on some music. Make shower time more entertaining by playing a few of your favorite songs and cranking up the volume. Listening to music will give you something to focus on other than the tedium of lathering, rinsing and repeating. You can even have your own private dance party or sing along as loud as you like—as long as the other people in the house don't mind.^{[17]
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- Invest in a watertight phone case or some waterproof speakers that you can bring into the humid bathroom with you.^{[18]
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- Put together a special playlist to queue up while you're showering, complete with hits like “Splish Splash,” “So Fresh, So Clean” and “Wade in the Water.”

Community Q&A

Question

I'm too scared to take showers because I'm really paranoid that someone is watching me. What do I do?

Community Answer

Many people have this problem. Get a clear shower curtain so you can clearly see that nothing/no one is there while you're taking a shower. Distract yourself by playing some music, or even just singing a song. If you get scared, just calmly remind yourself that no one is watching you and nothing is going to happen. The more frequently you make yourself shower, the less frightening it will be.
Question

How and when should I wash my hair?

Community Answer

When your hair is wet, apply shampoo, scrub, rinse, then put on conditioner and rinse. You should wash your hair every day, but some recommend to only wash it every other day. On the days you don't wash your hair, put on a shower cap or take a bath with your hair in a bun
Question

I don't like being alone in the shower. If someone just sits near me, then I can do it. Otherwise, I find every excuse on the planet not to take a shower.

Community Answer

Try doing something to distract yourself while showering. Turn on some music before you get in the shower and listen to two songs while you wash up. This will be enough time, and you can sing along, etc. to make the shower more fun.

Warnings

Don't lock the door in your house if you are there with someone you trust because it may prevent them from helping you if you became injured.

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Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2
Dancing in the shower can be a lot of fun, but be careful not to get so into it that you slip and fall. Talk about embarrassing!

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