Personal hygiene is taking care of your external body by keeping it clean. It protects you from germs, microbes, bacteria and infection.
Basic practices include bathing, trimming nails, brushing teeth, washing hands and more.
It is believed that “on average, people come in contact with around 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing them to 8,40,000 germs.” Some of these germs can cause severe infections like viral infections, bacterial infections, and various communicable diseases.
Maintaining a personal hygiene routine can eliminate the risk of many infections. It’s time for men to invest some time and effort in self-care by following these 10 personal hygiene tips.
1. Take a Shower Daily
Shower at least once (but ideally twice) daily, and always use soap to rinse dirt, dead skin cells, excess oils, etc. Thoroughly wash your underarms and genitals, as these areas produce excess sweat and are prone to fungal infections. Also, make sure you wash your hair 2-3 times a week.
2. Trim Your Nails
A 2015 study conducted by the National Library of Medicine found that “on average, 26 students touched their faces at least 23 times per hour.” Touching your face also includes touching your lips and probably your teeth. Imagine doing it with nails full of dirt! Also, if you eat using your hands, you directly consume bacteria that can cause diarrhoea, bad gut, and other digestive diseases. So, trimming and filing your nails once a week can save you from multiple diseases.
3. Keep Your Teeth Clean
Good oral hygiene is not limited to getting shiny white teeth; it’s much more than that. Brush twice daily – after waking up and before going to bed – for at least two minutes. Besides that, make it a point to floss between your teeth, clean your tongue, and use an antibacterial mouthwash for a close cleanse and fresh breath. Following these steps will help you to prevent cavities and gum diseases. It will keep your teeth strong!
4. Wash Your Hands Frequently
COVID-19 has made us aware of the benefit of washing hands. Your hands frequently touch dirty surfaces like mobile phones, pets, tables, keys, etc. Then you use the same hands to touch your face and food. It’s very important to clean them using soap or sanitiser frequently. Make it a routine to clean your hand every 3-4 hours and compulsorily before eating.
5. Keep Your Nose and Ears Clean
Nasal hygiene is the least discussed, but it’s a very important part of personal hygiene. If you live in an Indian city, it’s nearly impossible to breathe fresh air in your daily routine. The pollutant particles get stuck in your nasal hair and ears. Particles in your ear are not that harmful, but cleaning frequently is a good practice. You can use an earbud to clean or rinse your ear and nose with lukewarm water. It certainly benefits people allergic to dust or those with breath-related issues.
6. Disinfect Your Home/Workplace
Kitchen countertops, sinks, toilets, study or work tables, chairs, computers, etc., allow bacteria to build up easily. Please regularly disinfect them using an alcohol-based surface cleaner. It reduces the chances of getting sick.
Don’t leave the leftover food on the table or in the kitchen. It attracts pests, ants and germs. Change the curtains every two months, and make sure to disinfect furniture at least once a year. Clean surroundings will automatically reduce the spread of germs.
7. Wear Clean Clothes
People working desk jobs may not find their clothes dirty after a day of use, and those perfumes vanish the smell of your sweat. However, reusing clothes is very unhygienic. It increases the number of bacteria. The build-up of sweat and dirt in the fabric doesn’t allow your skin to breathe properly. It sometimes causes mild skin infections but can be worse for those with sensitive skin.
Please wash your clothes after wearing them. Use a detergent or soap. Also, wearing fresh clothes gives you an immediate boost to your mind and increases confidence.
8. Wash Your Face
Your face is always exposed to the outside world and attracts dirt, bacteria and harmful UV rays. So, important to keep it clean. Even if you remain at home all day, we recommend you wash your face at least twice daily.
Use a mild face cleanser or face wash that doesn’t irritate your skin and provides the required moisture. A body scrub, gel, or harsh soap makes your face rough. Then you have to use moisturisers to restore it. It is better to stick to face-only products or use natural items like clay, mud, Multani mitti, homemade masks, etc.
9. Genital Hygiene
Your groin area remains covered beneath your clothes. Despite any weather warm, moist or dark – it’s prone to bacterial infections. Those little scratches can be extremely painful. That’s why taking care of your genital hygiene is very important.
You must wash the area regularly, keep it dry using an antifungal dusting powder, and wear comfortable underwear that doesn’t scratch your skin and breathes well. We also recommend that you change your towel regularly.
10. Keep Your Feet Clean
Men usually don’t take their feet seriously, but then we get cracked heels, especially in winter. They get stuck in the bedsheet, and it’s super annoying. Also, it can be extremely painful at times. To prevent this, moisturise your feet daily, cut your toenails at least once a week and trim your cuticles (the tiny and sharp flake of skin beside your toenails). Immediately, start with the cure if you find any cracks on your feet.
Tips to make personal hygiene a routine
Somewhere, we are already aware of these tips, but following them regularly is the most difficult part. These tricks will surely help you with the implementation.
Take tiny steps: You cannot change your habits overnight; it takes time and consistency! Initially, set small, achievable goals. Ace them before adding more steps to your routine.
Use your mobile: List some of the top tasks you need to focus on and set alarms or reminders on your phone. Over time, completing these tasks will become a habit.
Reward or punish yourself: Reward yourself with a small treat upon completing your tasks for the day or week. Similarly, cut something you love to do if you fail to accomplish your hygiene tasks.
Conclusion
This personal hygiene guide focuses on the basics of grooming and hygiene, like taking a bath, trimming nails, brushing teeth, washing hands, maintaining genital hygiene, etc. Additionally, you can also try these for improved personal health. Building good habits takes a lifetime, but you got to start somewhere! Start today, and you are bound to notice an improvement in your physical and mental health eventually. Try the tips mentioned above, and let us know which ones work best for you!
