Shower-laziness: A lesson in self-kindness (and happy new year)

It's interesting how a change in the calendar can trigger a surge of new energy. We’ve just welcomed the new year, and in this time we often have the most determination for those lingering goals from the past few years - “this is finally the year!” 

I’ve recently returned from my two-month break and I confess I may have had some expectation that I would come back renewed, refreshed, and maybe even… a new person!

Well now that I’m back, I am refreshed for sure, but I am undeniably the same person and I think there’s nothing wrong with that.

During my holiday, I did learn something about myself—I tend to procrastinate taking a shower. The ritual goes as follows: I set the intention, get sidetracked by messages on my phone, engage in spontaneous room organisation, and eventually, I take that shower. Afterwards, I always feel refreshed, and I wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

Since coming home, this routine has stuck around - revealing itself as a long-standing habit. In the past, I would be harsh on myself for 'wasting time' and label myself as lazy. It can be common for people to first criticise themselves. While on holiday, I had no need to be productive or do anything, yet I still procrastinated these showers. I decided to embrace the fact that I’m shower-lazy. When there’s a time crunch, of course I get the job done without procrastinating. So instead of the reflexive response of being self-critical, I opted for self-kindness. It felt nice to accept this fact with a gentle heart and mind.

As the new year unfolds, this habit remains the same, and my response is acceptance. Acceptance doesn't imply surrender or simply tolerating; it's about making space for this quirk without judgment. It's about acknowledging that sometimes, the habit or behaviour might stay the same, but being kind to yourself is the transformative act.

On a side note, I questioned who truly benefits when I push for extra productivity. The act of shower-procrastination turned out to be a form of 'me-time,' a small luxury in the day. Perhaps there's wisdom in listening to what the body is trying to communicate.

So, this new year brings the same old habit, and I'm choosing not to fight it. And the funny thing is - since embracing this and being kind to myself, I spend less time procrastinating that shower!!

…I promise I do have more interesting stories from this holiday, and you can follow along on Instagram for more of these updates 😛