“Marginal Hygiene”
For obvious health reasons, to help keep the people you like around and to avoid expensive dental bills, it’s a good idea to shower and/or brush your teeth — preferably daily.
I’m not sure about you, but the last few weeks have revealed to me great truths about where hygiene rates on my personal list of priorities. As well, our home as a whole has seen tensions around nightly bath time softened as there have been generally less ‘bleeps’ given in regards to individual sanitation practices.
Normally I shower at least once every other day. This might be TMI but being a wife, Mom and business owner, that’s about as much cleanliness as I can fit into a week. I definitely brush my teeth twice per day, use my flossing sticks all the time and wash my face before bed even if I don’t put on makeup that day. I also make sure to clean my ears, shave my legs, file my nails and polish my toes as required.
Lately, however, the GE (Good Enough) compromise has become a bit too great. I think it’s time the 4 of us revisit our decisions of how often we turn on the shower tap or when we pick up a toothbrush.
I’ve nailed down 3 reasons why I think this dire situation has occurred:
1- The Online Conference Calling Life Is Norm
For the most part these days, I only have to ‘show up to life’ with the top half of my body. Throw on some earrings and BAM! I’m ready to go. This morning I didn’t even do that. While still in my pj’s and no bra (not that a bra really makes any difference in my case), I quickly wiped the sleep from my eyes and clicked ‘video on’ and joined the weekly Wednesday meeting with Luke’s teacher. Also being a mom to two boys, I knew she wouldn’t judge. Even with early morning business calls, I sometimes just throw on my Blue Jays hat and get to it.
2- I Don’t Want To Waste Expensive Laundry Soap
I can’t recall the last time I put on jeans, a dress or shoes other than my Nike Free Flyknits. If I do remember to have a Cowboy Shower, it’s usually adequate enough to mask the smell of my almost-40-year old drenching night sweats and yesterday’s bacon that is still lingering on Jeff’s old Hurley shirt I sleep in. Seeing as the boys hang out in their underwear or sweatpants for most of their waking hours, it’s become unanimously acceptable to wear the same outfit…yes, with undies… for more than one day. I mean really, laundry soap is expensive and I don’t want to have risk potentially over-washing a nice shirt when it is recommended to wash our clothing items after shopping at Costco anyway.
3- I Simply Don’t Care Enough Right Now
That’s it. I could pretty much care less right now. We wash our bed sheets once a week, the dishes and our Morkie Daisy daily because she thinks she’s a farm dog and gets dusty and gross when we take her for a walk. As far as my marriage is concerned, Jeff and I are on the same page and we hold each other accountable to a shower if things get out of hand. But as some of you know, after 15 years of marriage, we finally like each other now so when I do get dressed up in my fancy yoga pants after a shower and shave, that’s exciting stuff. I’m sure I don’t have to go into much detail about why our two boys are ok with this situation. To them (well, to the youngest) the bathing frequency remains about the same and I still have to fight him each evening to brush his teeth. The powers that be have said, though, that keeping up with some sort of routine is good…so I guess we won with that one.
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There you have it. If you’re feeling guilty or self-conscious or wondering if you’re the only one with questionable hygiene these days, I hope I helped you feel better about your cares today for your dealings with life or business.
Remember, done is better than perfect.
…but I still think we’re all due for a shower today.
-Becky
