I love showering! No matter if it is the first thing in the morning, or at the end of a long day, and sometimes, even during the day. Beyond the typical purpose of getting clean, I have implemented lifehacks — like brushing my teeth and shaving — for years now. Although extremely smart and helpful, the shower can also be a place were true success starts. Here are the five things that successful people do in the shower.
1. Capture those creative ideas
If you’ve often felt that creativity seems to strike when you’re in the shower, you aren’t alone. Showers are a beacon of creative ideas because they create an environment where the two elements essential for creativity are fostered. We are at our most creative when our minds are content and flooded with feel-good dopamine, in addition to when our minds are allowed to rest and be freed from constant thought.
But those moments of inspiration and creativity are worthless if you don’t capture them. To optimize your shower creativity, why not invest in a waterproof notepad that allows you to jot down your ideas before you even turn off the water? This successful person lifehack will ensure that your ideas don’t get washed down the drain.
2. Listen to motivational material
When you’re in the shower, your mind is likely to be more open and unoccupied. This is the perfect time to listen to your favourite motivational recordings. Utilizing your time in the shower will help you get in the empowering messages. If you are looking for fancy solutions to do so, just take a look at the wonderful options Techradar has put together. But if you want the quick and easy solution, one that you can take everywhere you go, just use your smartphone. Turn the volume up and put it next to the shower. It works perfectly for me. I use Spotify to listen to Tony Robbins and the legendary Zig Ziglar.
3. Meditate
Forget what you’ve heard about meditation. To be effective, you don’t have to be sitting in a lotus pose in the middle of nature. The shower could just be the perfect place. Shawngela Pierce shares the following simple steps you can take to be mindful in the shower:
- Start from the moment you step into the shower. Be mindful of the temperature of the floor as your feet step into the shower.
- Feel the temperature of the handle as you turn on the shower.
- Notice how the pressure of the water on your body makes you feel.
- Notice the smell of the soap. How does it make you feel?
- Notice how the towel feels on your hands.
This one works great for me on a long work day at home. When I find myself so focused on my work that I forget about time and space for hours, a meditative shower helps me to literally take my mind of work, allowing myself to be fully in the present moment.
4. Use your body language
What is your shower posture? Are you slumped over with a curved spine, reaching lazily for that bottle of shampoo and grumbling about the traffic that lies ahead of you when you leave your house? That might be your biggest shower misstep. Our body language has a serious effect on our state. We can dramatically improve our lives just by changing the way we have our body speak to ourselves. The simplest thing you can do under the shower is just smile. Another favourite of mine is the ‘power pose’. Amy Cuddy speaks about this in her TEDx Talk. I have written about more ways to use your body language here. At least seven of them can be practiced in the shower.
5. Relax
By following the tips above, you can turn your shower into a productive daily ritual. But sometimes, the best thing to do is to do nothing. Wanting every moment of your day to be productive can be stressful. Showering is one of those activities that can uplift your day just by letting the water come down. Just relax!
An improved shower, an improved life
With these tips, you can turn your morning shower into another corner stone of your path to success. Start incorporating them into your routines today, and you will notice a difference in no time.
