Practicing Good Hygiene
You may remember your parents or another adult telling you that when interviewing for a job, you should look professional. That may include doing your hair, putting on your best clothes, sitting up straight, and having good eye-contact. Those things will definitely help you look presentable when meeting a possible employer. But there’s another part of that which is even more important, no matter the situation: having good hygiene. This is crucial, both to our physical health and our mental/social well-being. Many hygienic habits are important because they clean your body and keep you from getting sick. However, many teenagers and adults also strive to look and feel their best. They start to become conscious of how they present themselves to others. While this tends to be thought of in a negative way, it’s good to take care of your body, and hygiene is crucial to overall well-being. For those reasons, let’s take a look at some ways to practice good hygiene.
Brush your teeth - Brushing is the best way to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Brushing your teeth helps eliminate bad breath. It also keeps your teeth and gums healthy by reducing gum disease and the chances of tooth decay, as well as preventing cavities. While you probably already know, it is important that you brush twice daily for about two minutes. Remember, chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing teeth (Healthdirect Australia, 2021).
Take Showers and Apply Deodorant - It’s recommended that you take a shower every day, and hopefully, you’re already in that habit. Keeping your skin clean is essential to preventing skin irritations and removing bacteria that can cause body odor. On top of that, pre-teens and older should apply deodorant under their armpits to eliminate body odor. Like with brushing your teeth, keep in mind that though applying deodorant can eliminate body odor, it doesn’t clean the skin. Take the time in the morning or at night to wash yourself well (Healthdirect Australia, 2021).
Cover Your Nose/Mouth and Wash Hands - Try to sneeze and cough into your arm to prevent any illnesses from traveling from your nose to someone else. While this is especially important if you’re sick, it’s always the courteous thing to do. Just think: Would you want someone to sneeze or cough on you? Also, remember to wash your hands regularly. Whenever you use the restroom, get home from a public place, or touch animals, try to wash your hands with soap and water for twenty seconds.
While there are many physical benefits to good hygiene, there’s also an impact socially. People who take care of themselves in these ways tend to be more confident and have higher self-esteem. This boosts productivity at work or school, increases positive self-talk, and puts the person in a better mood. On the other hand, those who don’t practice good hygiene tend to have lower self-esteem and have increased thoughts of anxiety and irritability. It seems as though the saying holds true: look your best, feel your best!
Reference: Healthdirect Australia. (2021). Personal hygiene. Healthdirect. Retrieved from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/personal-hygiene.
Challenges/Points:
Personal hygiene is important to overall health - physical and mental!
There are many simple ways to practice good hygiene, including brushing your teeth, showering and applying deodorant, covering your mouth/nose, and washing your hands.
Prioritize and turn these simple ways to practice good hygiene into habits.
Questions:
How would you rate your personal hygiene?
Is there one thing from the list above that you don’t do? How could you make time to do it?
What else do you already do to take care of your body?
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