Stay Clean, Stay Healthy: Personal Hygiene
Sometimes called “grooming,” personal hygiene is just a fancy way of saying “how we keep ourselves neat and clean.”
Keeping our bodies clean and smelling good is important. Why? First, because it stops the spread of germs that make you and others sick. Second, people generally feel more comfortable around others who look and smell clean.
Sure, it can feel like a chore to wash hands, take showers, clean and iron our clothes, and do all the other things involved in personal hygiene. But doesn’t it feel GREAT when you’re clean and fresh? It gives you a feeling of being ready and confident to greet the world! And let’s face it, don’t we all need that?
Teens need to clean!
Adolescents, especially, have plenty of hygiene needs. If you’re a teenager, you’re undergoing a lot of hormonal changes — some great, some… not so much. A lot of these changes can cause unpleasant odors, skin problems, unwanted hair growth, and other not-so-fun experiences.
Grooming is a workplace skill
Of course, it’s nice to appear clean and take care with your appearance, for the benefit of others who are around you. But it matters more than you might think. In fact, it could even affect the impression people have of you at work!
Personal hygiene is something employers value. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor says that personal grooming is one of the “soft skills for workplace success.” (In case you’re wondering, other things on this list include the ability to accept criticism, to read social cues appropriately, to interact with employees, and to ask for help on your own.)
Independence means choosing for yourself
When you’re young and your parents or caregivers are responsible for your care, they may make choices about your appearance — and the choices they make might not be the ones you’d pick. Maybe they cut or style your hair in ways you don’t like, or dress you in clothes you didn’t select, or bought you soap that had a smell you didn’t like.
But when you’re living on your own, you’re in charge! You get to buy the products you like, style your hair the way you like it, wear the clothes you want, grow your nails longer, grow a beard… whatever you want! As long as you’re clean and look appropriate for work or other responsibilities, it’s up to you.
That also means that it’s up to you to create a routine for when you do all these things. Maybe you prefer to shower at night, while others like the morning. Maybe you like baths instead of showers. Some might wash their hair every day while you might do it every two or three days. As long as you do it consistently and make it part of your daily routine, it’s up to you — based on your energy level, your preferences, and your other responsibilities.
In this section, we’ll cover:
