Latest news with #routines
UAE Moments
19 hours ago
- Health
- UAE Moments
Today's Moon Mood: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Energy: Practical, detail-oriented, and quietly intense Element: Earth Mantra: 'I find peace in the little things.' What does this mean? Today's Virgo Moon is all about precision, organization, and grounding yourself in routines that bring clarity. You might feel the urge to declutter your room and your mind—or finally tackle that to-do list you've been avoiding. There's a quiet, focused energy in the air, encouraging self-care through structure. What to lean into: Plan your week, budget, or meals—it'll feel weirdly satisfying Start a new health habit (think journaling, stretching, or hydrating better) Avoid spiraling into perfectionism—done is better than perfect today Mood Match: A clean workspace, a neatly brewed cup of tea, and lo-fi beats in the background. Cosmic caution: Don't overthink things that don't need fixing. Not everything needs a system—just your energy does. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here
CNN
5 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Do you really need a 10-step ‘everything shower'? Influencers think so, experts disagree
Social mediaFacebookTweetLink It's a Sunday evening, but your work for the week is already cut out for you. You throw your bedsheets in the wash, oil your scalp, smear on a clay mask, dry brush your legs and pour the tallest bottle of ice water imaginable. For this humid, three-hour labor of self-love, you will need it. Even if you've never heard of the 'everything shower,' you've probably taken one. It's a shower that includes every step of your personal hygiene routine: shaving, cleansing, shampooing and all. In private, the everything shower is a chore reserved for when time permits. On social media, it's becoming a luxurious public spectacle, with creators sharing lengthy, multistep routines and recommending the use of up to 25 products at a time. Some everything shower videos detail a process that can take hours. Pre-shower steps such as hair oiling, scalp massage, dry brushing and dermaplaning are followed by the main event: various cleansers, exfoliators, masks and bars. After the shower, there's a deluge of lip treatments, moisturizers, body oils and perfumes to finish. Influencers may consider the everything shower an essential, weekly self-care ritual. But health experts — and water conservationists — aren't so convinced. Instead, they say the best showers can be quick and simple. You may feel like an everything shower delivers a deeper clean than a regular shower, but from a basic hygiene perspective, it doesn't accomplish much. For one, body odor, oily skin or many of the things we associate with being 'unclean' are more aesthetic concerns than direct health risks, said Dr. Elaine Larson, a professor emerita of epidemiology and nursing at Columbia University in New York City. 'Bathing is mostly for preventing an overgrowth of harmful germs,' Larson said. 'Most Americans shower every day, some twice a day, but that's not necessarily improving their health.' How much should we shower? Most adults could get away with showering every two to three days, she said. Even for the stench-conscious, an arsenal of cleansing products and tools isn't necessary. One fragrance-free, gentle body cleanser scrubbed into the armpits and groin area could do the trick, said Dr. Jules Lipoff, a board-certified dermatologist and an adjunct clinical associate professor of dermatology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Within just five to 10 minutes, the simple washing regimen of soap and water delivers a full cleansing, he said. All other shower steps, such as shampoo, conditioner, exfoliating and shaving, are generally more about how we look and feel. Using dozens of products in the shower isn't just unnecessary — it can even be harmful, warned Dr. Angela Lamb, an associate professor and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in New York City. 'Each new product you introduce provides another opportunity for something to go on your skin and (potentially) create an allergic or irritating reaction for you,' said Lamb, who is also a board-certified dermatologist. Products with acne-fighting ingredients and fragrances are especially common culprits for allergic contact dermatitis or worsening eczema symptoms such as dryness and redness, Lamb noted. Additionally, using multiple cleansers or showering excessively can disturb the skin's natural protective microbiome, Larson said. Similar to the gut, our skin has natural populations of bacteria that help fight against harmful pathogens and fungus, she explained. When the 'good bacteria' is stripped away, it can lead to an increased risk of infection, which mostly manifests as acne. Dermaplaning, a step that's commonly recommended in everything shower routines, can also introduce a greater risk of infection, Lamb said. The technique uses a sharp blade to skim the surface of the face, removing facial hair and layers of dead skin. Women mostly use dermaplaning to achieve a more 'glowy' or even complexion in the short term, but Lamb suggests the risks of potential redness, irritation and the return of more noticeable facial hair tend to outweigh the rewards. 'When it comes to dead skin, our bodies actually do a pretty good job on their own,' Lipoff said. Your skin naturally sheds dead cells every few days and the mechanical force of water alone helps to loosen them, he explained. Still, those bothered by rough, bumpy areas of keratosis pilaris — a harmless buildup of keratin typically found on the arms and legs — may find some benefit from light exfoliation in the shower, Lamb said. A long, hot shower can be relaxing, but it's worth considering how much water goes down the drain as you work through the many steps of an everything shower. Among Americans, showering accounts for nearly 17% of all indoor water consumption and every minute you spend in the shower can use around 2.5 gallons of water, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. To conserve more water, Lamb suggests turning off the faucet to shave, shampoo and lather soap. And, if you can, try to limit your everything showers to special occasions. You could also look for more water efficient showerheads with the EPA's certified WaterSense label, said Pete Nardi, the chair of water conservation for the American Water Works Association, in an email. Making the switch could save a family of four up to 50,000 gallons of water per year, he said. Piping hot showers also use significant energy, Nardi noted. Water heating is typically the second-highest use of energy in a home, so taking colder showers could help cut down your electric bill. 'Water is our most precious natural resource. The Earth has all the water it's ever had and ever will have,' Nardi said. 'We all must be water resource stewards, to preserve the natural resource for future generations.' In general, health care professionals are happy to see more young people taking an interest in self-care, Lamb said. But on the other hand, it can be difficult to discern which social media videos are sharing science-backed tips for the actual benefit of their audience, and which ones are just meant to sell products. 'Overall, I think for a lot of people, a shower is a ritual that brings psychological stability and peace,' Lipoff said. 'But if you're spending a lot of money or if you are having anxiety about keeping up with the complexity of the routine you've laid out, that is a sign your routine is getting too complex.' While women are primarily the ones sharing their shower routines on social media, they may also be the most susceptible to the pressures of maintaining unrealistic standards of beauty and cleanliness, said Dr. Jill E. Yavorsky, an associate professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 'It's likely true that some women might get real enjoyment out of doing some of these things. As other scholars have argued, 'doing your gender' can bring enjoyment for people,' Yavorsky said via email. 'At the same time, I think it can be a slippery slope for combining women's leisure and relaxation time with activities predominantly aimed to enhance their appearance.' Sign up for CNN's Life, But Greener newsletter. Our limited newsletter series guides you on how to minimize your personal role in the climate crisis — and reduce your eco-anxiety.
CNN
5 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Do you really need a 10-step ‘everything shower'? Influencers think so, experts disagree
It's a Sunday evening, but your work for the week is already cut out for you. You throw your bedsheets in the wash, oil your scalp, smear on a clay mask, dry brush your legs and pour the tallest bottle of ice water imaginable. For this humid, three-hour labor of self-love, you will need it. Even if you've never heard of the 'everything shower,' you've probably taken one. It's a shower that includes every step of your personal hygiene routine: shaving, cleansing, shampooing and all. In private, the everything shower is a chore reserved for when time permits. On social media, it's becoming a luxurious public spectacle, with creators sharing lengthy, multistep routines and recommending the use of up to 25 products at a time. Some everything shower videos detail a process that can take hours. Pre-shower steps such as hair oiling, scalp massage, dry brushing and dermaplaning are followed by the main event: various cleansers, exfoliators, masks and bars. After the shower, there's a deluge of lip treatments, moisturizers, body oils and perfumes to finish. Influencers may consider the everything shower an essential, weekly self-care ritual. But health experts — and water conservationists — aren't so convinced. Instead, they say the best showers can be quick and simple. You may feel like an everything shower delivers a deeper clean than a regular shower, but from a basic hygiene perspective, it doesn't accomplish much. For one, body odor, oily skin or many of the things we associate with being 'unclean' are more aesthetic concerns than direct health risks, said Dr. Elaine Larson, a professor emerita of epidemiology and nursing at Columbia University in New York City. 'Bathing is mostly for preventing an overgrowth of harmful germs,' Larson said. 'Most Americans shower every day, some twice a day, but that's not necessarily improving their health.' How much should we shower? Most adults could get away with showering every two to three days, she said. Even for the stench-conscious, an arsenal of cleansing products and tools isn't necessary. One fragrance-free, gentle body cleanser scrubbed into the armpits and groin area could do the trick, said Dr. Jules Lipoff, a board-certified dermatologist and an adjunct clinical associate professor of dermatology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Within just five to 10 minutes, the simple washing regimen of soap and water delivers a full cleansing, he said. All other shower steps, such as shampoo, conditioner, exfoliating and shaving, are generally more about how we look and feel. Using dozens of products in the shower isn't just unnecessary — it can even be harmful, warned Dr. Angela Lamb, an associate professor and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in New York City. 'Each new product you introduce provides another opportunity for something to go on your skin and (potentially) create an allergic or irritating reaction for you,' said Lamb, who is also a board-certified dermatologist. Products with acne-fighting ingredients and fragrances are especially common culprits for allergic contact dermatitis or worsening eczema symptoms such as dryness and redness, Lamb noted. Additionally, using multiple cleansers or showering excessively can disturb the skin's natural protective microbiome, Larson said. Similar to the gut, our skin has natural populations of bacteria that help fight against harmful pathogens and fungus, she explained. When the 'good bacteria' is stripped away, it can lead to an increased risk of infection, which mostly manifests as acne. Dermaplaning, a step that's commonly recommended in everything shower routines, can also introduce a greater risk of infection, Lamb said. The technique uses a sharp blade to skim the surface of the face, removing facial hair and layers of dead skin. Women mostly use dermaplaning to achieve a more 'glowy' or even complexion in the short term, but Lamb suggests the risks of potential redness, irritation and the return of more noticeable facial hair tend to outweigh the rewards. 'When it comes to dead skin, our bodies actually do a pretty good job on their own,' Lipoff said. Your skin naturally sheds dead cells every few days and the mechanical force of water alone helps to loosen them, he explained. Still, those bothered by rough, bumpy areas of keratosis pilaris — a harmless buildup of keratin typically found on the arms and legs — may find some benefit from light exfoliation in the shower, Lamb said. A long, hot shower can be relaxing, but it's worth considering how much water goes down the drain as you work through the many steps of an everything shower. Among Americans, showering accounts for nearly 17% of all indoor water consumption and every minute you spend in the shower can use around 2.5 gallons of water, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. To conserve more water, Lamb suggests turning off the faucet to shave, shampoo and lather soap. And, if you can, try to limit your everything showers to special occasions. You could also look for more water efficient showerheads with the EPA's certified WaterSense label, said Pete Nardi, the chair of water conservation for the American Water Works Association, in an email. Making the switch could save a family of four up to 50,000 gallons of water per year, he said. Piping hot showers also use significant energy, Nardi noted. Water heating is typically the second-highest use of energy in a home, so taking colder showers could help cut down your electric bill. 'Water is our most precious natural resource. The Earth has all the water it's ever had and ever will have,' Nardi said. 'We all must be water resource stewards, to preserve the natural resource for future generations.' In general, health care professionals are happy to see more young people taking an interest in self-care, Lamb said. But on the other hand, it can be difficult to discern which social media videos are sharing science-backed tips for the actual benefit of their audience, and which ones are just meant to sell products. 'Overall, I think for a lot of people, a shower is a ritual that brings psychological stability and peace,' Lipoff said. 'But if you're spending a lot of money or if you are having anxiety about keeping up with the complexity of the routine you've laid out, that is a sign your routine is getting too complex.' While women are primarily the ones sharing their shower routines on social media, they may also be the most susceptible to the pressures of maintaining unrealistic standards of beauty and cleanliness, said Dr. Jill E. Yavorsky, an associate professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 'It's likely true that some women might get real enjoyment out of doing some of these things. As other scholars have argued, 'doing your gender' can bring enjoyment for people,' Yavorsky said via email. 'At the same time, I think it can be a slippery slope for combining women's leisure and relaxation time with activities predominantly aimed to enhance their appearance.' Sign up for CNN's Life, But Greener newsletter. Our limited newsletter series guides you on how to minimize your personal role in the climate crisis — and reduce your eco-anxiety.
CNN
5 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Do you really need a 10-step ‘everything shower'? Influencers think so, experts disagree
It's a Sunday evening, but your work for the week is already cut out for you. You throw your bedsheets in the wash, oil your scalp, smear on a clay mask, dry brush your legs and pour the tallest bottle of ice water imaginable. For this humid, three-hour labor of self-love, you will need it. Even if you've never heard of the 'everything shower,' you've probably taken one. It's a shower that includes every step of your personal hygiene routine: shaving, cleansing, shampooing and all. In private, the everything shower is a chore reserved for when time permits. On social media, it's becoming a luxurious public spectacle, with creators sharing lengthy, multistep routines and recommending the use of up to 25 products at a time. Some everything shower videos detail a process that can take hours. Pre-shower steps such as hair oiling, scalp massage, dry brushing and dermaplaning are followed by the main event: various cleansers, exfoliators, masks and bars. After the shower, there's a deluge of lip treatments, moisturizers, body oils and perfumes to finish. Influencers may consider the everything shower an essential, weekly self-care ritual. But health experts — and water conservationists — aren't so convinced. Instead, they say the best showers can be quick and simple. You may feel like an everything shower delivers a deeper clean than a regular shower, but from a basic hygiene perspective, it doesn't accomplish much. For one, body odor, oily skin or many of the things we associate with being 'unclean' are more aesthetic concerns than direct health risks, said Dr. Elaine Larson, a professor emerita of epidemiology and nursing at Columbia University in New York City. 'Bathing is mostly for preventing an overgrowth of harmful germs,' Larson said. 'Most Americans shower every day, some twice a day, but that's not necessarily improving their health.' How much should we shower? Most adults could get away with showering every two to three days, she said. Even for the stench-conscious, an arsenal of cleansing products and tools isn't necessary. One fragrance-free, gentle body cleanser scrubbed into the armpits and groin area could do the trick, said Dr. Jules Lipoff, a board-certified dermatologist and an adjunct clinical associate professor of dermatology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Within just five to 10 minutes, the simple washing regimen of soap and water delivers a full cleansing, he said. All other shower steps, such as shampoo, conditioner, exfoliating and shaving, are generally more about how we look and feel. Using dozens of products in the shower isn't just unnecessary — it can even be harmful, warned Dr. Angela Lamb, an associate professor and director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in New York City. 'Each new product you introduce provides another opportunity for something to go on your skin and (potentially) create an allergic or irritating reaction for you,' said Lamb, who is also a board-certified dermatologist. Products with acne-fighting ingredients and fragrances are especially common culprits for allergic contact dermatitis or worsening eczema symptoms such as dryness and redness, Lamb noted. Additionally, using multiple cleansers or showering excessively can disturb the skin's natural protective microbiome, Larson said. Similar to the gut, our skin has natural populations of bacteria that help fight against harmful pathogens and fungus, she explained. When the 'good bacteria' is stripped away, it can lead to an increased risk of infection, which mostly manifests as acne. Dermaplaning, a step that's commonly recommended in everything shower routines, can also introduce a greater risk of infection, Lamb said. The technique uses a sharp blade to skim the surface of the face, removing facial hair and layers of dead skin. Women mostly use dermaplaning to achieve a more 'glowy' or even complexion in the short term, but Lamb suggests the risks of potential redness, irritation and the return of more noticeable facial hair tend to outweigh the rewards. 'When it comes to dead skin, our bodies actually do a pretty good job on their own,' Lipoff said. Your skin naturally sheds dead cells every few days and the mechanical force of water alone helps to loosen them, he explained. Still, those bothered by rough, bumpy areas of keratosis pilaris — a harmless buildup of keratin typically found on the arms and legs — may find some benefit from light exfoliation in the shower, Lamb said. A long, hot shower can be relaxing, but it's worth considering how much water goes down the drain as you work through the many steps of an everything shower. Among Americans, showering accounts for nearly 17% of all indoor water consumption and every minute you spend in the shower can use around 2.5 gallons of water, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. To conserve more water, Lamb suggests turning off the faucet to shave, shampoo and lather soap. And, if you can, try to limit your everything showers to special occasions. You could also look for more water efficient showerheads with the EPA's certified WaterSense label, said Pete Nardi, the chair of water conservation for the American Water Works Association, in an email. Making the switch could save a family of four up to 50,000 gallons of water per year, he said. Piping hot showers also use significant energy, Nardi noted. Water heating is typically the second-highest use of energy in a home, so taking colder showers could help cut down your electric bill. 'Water is our most precious natural resource. The Earth has all the water it's ever had and ever will have,' Nardi said. 'We all must be water resource stewards, to preserve the natural resource for future generations.' In general, health care professionals are happy to see more young people taking an interest in self-care, Lamb said. But on the other hand, it can be difficult to discern which social media videos are sharing science-backed tips for the actual benefit of their audience, and which ones are just meant to sell products. 'Overall, I think for a lot of people, a shower is a ritual that brings psychological stability and peace,' Lipoff said. 'But if you're spending a lot of money or if you are having anxiety about keeping up with the complexity of the routine you've laid out, that is a sign your routine is getting too complex.' While women are primarily the ones sharing their shower routines on social media, they may also be the most susceptible to the pressures of maintaining unrealistic standards of beauty and cleanliness, said Dr. Jill E. Yavorsky, an associate professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 'It's likely true that some women might get real enjoyment out of doing some of these things. As other scholars have argued, 'doing your gender' can bring enjoyment for people,' Yavorsky said via email. 'At the same time, I think it can be a slippery slope for combining women's leisure and relaxation time with activities predominantly aimed to enhance their appearance.' Sign up for CNN's Life, But Greener newsletter. Our limited newsletter series guides you on how to minimize your personal role in the climate crisis — and reduce your eco-anxiety.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
1 Unique Way To Be More Productive — According To A Psychologist
How do we understand and organize the daily events of our life? It appears we use mental templates or 'scripts' to form coherent narratives of these events. These scripts are like a library of patterns that help us predict and make sense of what's happening around us. For example, we know what usually happens in a restaurant, which is ordering from a menu, eating and paying for your food. Interestingly, a 2024 study published in Current Biology suggests that our brains can divide time into meaningful sections or 'chapters.' The change is not just mental — it reflects in our brain activity. So, our brains don't just passively respond to the world around us; they actively organize events based on what we're paying attention to and what we already know. This tendency can be harnessed to improve focus and manage everyday tasks more efficiently, reducing stress and helping you achieve a better work-life balance. Here are some practical strategies to use meaningful chapters to have more productive days. A 2018 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that there are three significant aspects of what constitutes meaning in life and the ability to feel like we're part of something larger than ourselves. These aspects are significance, purpose and coherence. Researchers found that routines can play an important role in achieving coherence and meaning. They often align with important goals, such as daily exercise or completing tasks at work. Even though routines can feel monotonous, they can include a series of intentional actions that move you toward meaningful objectives. Structuring your day around meaningful personal goals can encourage you to make the time to manage stress more effectively, sleep better, eat nutrient-dense foods and be more active, all of which contribute to your well-being and sharpen your focus. Setting clear boundaries between work and rest periods, such as by allocating specific times for tasks reduces distractions and helps you concentrate on one thing at a time. This prevents multitasking, which for many, can reduce focus and productivity. One helpful way to do this is to journal or reflect on the day's chapters to get a sense of what your day already looks like, and then break it down into new, meaningful chapters on paper. Create a routine according to your individual needs, reflecting on what would truly benefit your personal evolution. You can also use time-blocking strategies like the Pomodoro technique to create natural 'chapters' in your day and avoid burnout. It's best to curate these time breaks according to how long it actually takes for you to feel rested and how long you find that you can focus completely. Reframing routine activities, like going for a walk or going grocery shopping, as intentional 'chapters' can boost motivation. For instance, your morning workout can be your 'wellness' chapter, and your grocery haul can be part of your 'self-nourishment' chapter. Additionally, research shows that incorporating simple, undemanding activities like folding clothes or doing laundry as 'breaks' in between demanding tasks can enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities. For those whose minds tend to wander, such tasks encourage mind wandering, which seems to help the brain unconsciously connect ideas and aid creativity. This is a great reminder that slowing down can be productive. Such activities can help creative individuals who find it difficult to structure their day, as mundane tasks become more meaningful for them. These chapters are times for their minds to roam freely, while completing chores that benefit them, but don't drain them further. Align your chapters with your natural energy cycles. Everyone has different levels of energy throughout the day and you need to find what works for you. For example, your energy level may be the highest in the early morning, so it may be best to get a workout in at the time. Schedule demanding tasks during energy peaks and use lows for lighter activities. It's also worth noting that men and women function on different hormonal cycles. While men have a 24-hour cycle with their testosterone peaking early in the day and slowing down in the evening, women have a 28 day reproductive hormone cycle. So, their energy levels can fluctuate depending on the time of the month. Research also shows that circadian rhythms can impact men and women differently, with women experiencing greater cognitive impairments at night. So, women may benefit from scheduling more cognitively demanding work earlier in the day. Defining your chapters provides a powerful framework for organizing your day, enhancing focus and reducing stress. Let each chapter of your day bring you closer to achieving your goals, one step at a time. Are you mindful about how you spend your time? Take this science-backed test to learn more: Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
