Finding the time to look after your hygiene can be challenging, particularly as a young working adult. The fact is, many young adults and new graduates are forced to balance incredible pressure both at work and in their social lives. Nonetheless, it is still vitally important that you are able to dedicate time to taking care of yourself, as it can have a dramatic impact on your wellbeing. 

While being hardworking and goal-oriented is no doubt a positive quality, it is equally if not more important to look after your physical and mental wellness. One of the most important parts of looking after your own health is maintaining your hygiene. Not only is this a vital part of staying physically healthy, but poor hygiene can also actually start affecting your mental health too, leading to lower self-esteem. 

Sadly, a proper hygiene routine is one of the most common things to be sacrificed by young adults during periods of stress or intensive work. However, it actually doesn’t take that much time out of your day to maintain healthy habits at all, as long as you don’t let your own stress overwhelm you. Here are five simple tips for how you can keep yourself in tip-top shape without sacrificing your career success.

Consider How You Bathe

A basic daily hygiene routine should consist of regular bathing and cleaning, nail trimming, and skincare. Your body constantly releases oil, sweat, and dead skin cells which need to be removed. Invest in a quality body wash, shampoo and conditioner in order to properly clean yourself in the shower. That said, you’ll want to avoid so-called “two-in-one” or “three-on-one” products. 

While they may be cheaper, there’s a reason for that: they also don’t get the job done, either. A gentle and hydrating body wash combined with a loofah or a shower cloth serves to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize the skin on your body. Meanwhile, shampoo strips the oil and sweat from your hair, and a conditioner restores nutrients and moisture.

Brush And Floss Daily

In addition to bathing regularly, another hugely important part of personal hygiene is oral hygiene. Although it might seem like an obvious thing that everyone learns to do as a kid, research has shown that over a third of adults are actually brushing their teeth incorrectly. Mastering this skill is a breeze, though, and can lead to reduced dental bills and pain in the long run.

When brushing your teeth, you should position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth. Be sure to brush every surface of your teeth, including in the back and those harder-to-reach places. A soft brush with round bristles is ideal to prevent damage to your teeth or gums. You should also floss daily, before you brush your teeth, for maximum effect.

Don’t Neglect Your Nails

Be sure to trim your nails regularly, since leaving your nails too long can result in painful hung nails and infected nail beds. Ungroomed nails are also widely regarded as being aesthetically unattractive, too. Instead, invest in a high-quality nail clipper to trim your nails, as most cheap nail clippers dull far too quickly and end up simply “crushing” instead of clipping your nails. 

You should also purchase different nail clippers for your fingernails and toenails to prevent transmitting bacteria between the two. Finish off the job with a durable nail file. The best options tend to be an emery board or glass nail file, as metal files can tear and damage your nails, especially as they start to grow duller. While glass nail files are somewhat more expensive, their extremely high grit results in smooth and finely sealed nails.

Take Care Of Your Skin

Proper skincare is another extremely important part of hygiene. Your skin is the largest organ on your body and serves to protect you from all sorts of external threats, such as viruses and bacteria that will make you sick. In addition to washing your body with a body wash and moisturizing using a lotion, you should pay extra attention to the skin on your face. 

A basic facial skin care routine should include at minimum a cleanser and a moisturizer. Use a scrub cleanser to exfoliate and remove oil, dirt, and dead skin cells from your face. Then, follow up with a moisturizer to hydrate and protect your newly cleansed skin. You can also consider using toners and serums to balance and invigorate your skin. 

These products should be used after cleansing but before applying moisturizer. While it might seem like a lot, these steps take a tiny amount of time every morning to finish, and you’ll feel, look and smell so much better throughout your day for it. And in turn, you may find not only your confidence — but also your success in life — on the rise!