this post was submitted on 05 May 2024
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ADHD

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submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/adhd
 

For me showering means standing in a windowless room staring at a blank wall for 20 minutes (I get lost in my thoughts). Also there are several steps and I have to think about each of them.
This means that I only end up showering when my fear of coming across as dirty becomes bigger than the dread of being bored.
What do you do?

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

[–] lookorex 10 points 7 months ago

I second this. I have one that hangs on one of the shower curtain hooks, and I even got a little suction cup basket to set my phone in, in case I need to change songs or something. Works like a charm.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You can reduce the time there by making the water colder. You can also approach the experience as a sequence of steps and work out how you can wash every single part of your body in the least amount of steps.

For example, is it quicker to get all wet, turn off the shower, lather up your body, then rinse it all off in one go, or is it more efficient to do it from top to bottom, one body part at a time?

What's the fastest you've been able to go from sleeping to walking out the door having had a full shower?

Finally, you should probably have a shower once a day if you're around other people or if you get visitors. You might not smell anything, but they definitely will.

Finally, there's absolutely nothing wrong with zoning out in the shower. Some days you luxuriate in the experience, some days you don't.

Good luck!

[–] JackiesFridge 4 points 7 months ago

This for me. I have the moves choreographed and timed, and every shower is a step by step play of the sequence. I just repeat the ritual. I'm not the quickest (it takes about 8 minutes from entering to exiting the bathroom) because I'm paranoid about not cleaning thoroughly.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago (2 children)
[–] cheese_greater 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Invite urself ;) cache my drift

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[–] HootinNHollerin 15 points 7 months ago

Shower beer

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (7 children)

Set a stop watch and speedrun it

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (3 children)

20 minutes??!!! Wtf are you doing? How much is your heating bill!!! I have a family of 5 and it costs over 4 euros a day to provide hot water for us all (200litre tank) of we all took 20 minutes, I would go full on dad rage.

[–] ChexMax 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I have no idea how to go faster than 20 minutes. Between washing my face, body, shaving my under arms and legs, washing my long hair.. that's just how long it takes. I do not spend any time zoning out or enjoying the shower, it's strictly chores.

[–] ForgotAboutDre 2 points 7 months ago

You don't need the shower running to shave.

Shampoo hair quickly, then leave conditioner in while you wash. Rinse conditioner at the end.

If you need to detangle hair use a wide comb, to to it faster. If it still takes too long, soak hair add a little conditioner then turn off the shower to detangle.

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[–] MintyAnt 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What is your hot water source?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Electric immersion heater, running on off peak electricity

[–] MintyAnt 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I wonder how much you could save with a heat pump water heater

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The ROI is long term, and not sure if it would actually happen, considering potential mechanical failure. My best plan for a high ROI is to put a hydraulic solar panel on the roof. Just need to get round to it, so many other jobs taking priority at the moment.

[–] MintyAnt 5 points 7 months ago

Eh I just hired someone to do mine. Got me off oil. The rebates offered helped

[–] ieatmeat 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I'm wondering how people take showers shorter than 20 minutes. My normal shower routine takes 30-40 minutes, even longer if I need to shave intimate parts. if I'm in a real hurry and skip shaving altogether I might make it in 20 minutes. I have long hair, so I need to apply shampoo, rinse, apply some more shampoo, rinse, apply conditioner, while it soaks I wash my face with gentle face wash, soap up my body, shave, then rinse.... It's a long process.

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[–] ChexMax 10 points 7 months ago

People have said this, but a playlist. I put on music I'm familiar with that is upbeat. I figure each song is around 3 minutes, so when the song changes I'm like oh yeah, get to business, that's three more minutes that have gone by! Bonus if you play the same playlist so you know "usually I'm rinsing my hair out by this song! I've got to hurry up!"

[–] Yiggs 9 points 7 months ago

I let the intrusive thoughts win and hung my ceiling nightlight thing from the inside shower curtain and shower with the lights off. I find it more calming--not that I found found showers not relaxing before but feels like I'm shutting out the outside world more and that I find more relaxing.

I also have some of those bone conducting headphones that are waterproof so I listen to podcasts while I shower as well.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I put on some cool music and dance (safely) in the shower

[–] lookorex 4 points 7 months ago

Great music definitely breaks up the monotony of a shower.

[–] turbodrooler 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I listen to podcasts on a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. I wish I could speed my showers up though. IDK, I just always feel the need to rinse off my hands between every step, and it takes so long. Example steps: Put shampoo in hands, put hands into hair and uh agitate. Hands now covered in shampoo lather and shampoo lather running down my forehead to my eyes. To stop that, I need to rinse my hands. Awkwardly wave my hands in the thin water jets until clean. With clean hands, move the descending lather back into my hair, then step under the water to rinse my hair. Hair’s rinsed but hands not fully. Hand rinsing dance again. Next step, face wash, and on and on and on. God I wish I could speed it up.

[–] mojofrododojo 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I too use a bluetooth speaker in the shower; usually on NPR news. the short nature of their coverage usually helps me focused so I don't zone out.

RE: Rinsing - tbh, there's nothing wrong with this unless you're extremely water / hot water / time crunched - rinsing between each steps helps prevent cross contaminating your body with stuff you're scrubbing off of other bits.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago

I just enjoy the quiet mmoment in the shower. I noticed that i take on alot of stimulation lately even when really, I dont need it. Its become a habit I have to unlearn. It start with the shower.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

listen to music if you lower you inner voice. but i love the thoughts i have in showering. it's the only safe place that i can listen to myself and think about things in general

[–] Mango 6 points 7 months ago
[–] lana 6 points 7 months ago

I got a shower phone holder which sticks to the wall and now I just put on a video essay or something while I’m showering. Still have a find a balance of a topic that’s not too engaging though otherwise I’d just stand there watching until the hot water runs out haha

[–] SaddieTheMad 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Make playlists of songs within your vocal range and sing! It's so much easier in the shower. You'll flow.

[–] Sorgan71 5 points 7 months ago (2 children)
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[–] VaultBoyNewVegas 4 points 7 months ago

Music is my go to. Set my phone down and put a playlist on. I'm not quick at showering so if I didn't use music I'd only half ass cleaning myself.

[–] I_Miss_Daniel 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Nothing wrong with a weekly shower in some conditions.

A good podcast or TV show might help.

[–] Aganim 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I've got a waterproof timer which I set when I need to shower within a set timeframe. Seeing a countdown helps keeping a sense of urgency and helps me with not getting lost in thought.When I'm not on a limit I'll put it in clock mode so I can let my thoughts wander, while still having some sense of elapsed time.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

I guess you could stick a checklist to the wall to keep yourself on track

[–] p5yk0t1km1r4ge 2 points 7 months ago

Think up an entire story from start to finish. Before you know it you're done.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (4 children)

How do you shower dor 20 minutes?

[–] Graphy 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Just kinda stand there and daydream

Recently installed a tankless electric system so I sadly no longer get kicked out for running out of hot water lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

This. I forget I'm in the shower.

[–] flicker 5 points 7 months ago

I have long, thick, curly hair and washing it involves making sure the water soaks through to my scalp, making sure the conditioner gets through to the scalp, combing it through once it's soaked with product (brushing it dry is a nightmare), scrubbing every inch of my scalp to avoid skin or dirt build up, then rinsing it.

This is a time consuming process. Luckily, my ADHD doesn't interfere in this process because it makes every shower about me having an argument with someone where I win. Or babbling to myself about whatever major concerns I have (do I want to have children?)

And also I listen to podcasts. Right now I'm doing Dungeons and Daddies and the opening/closing song for it is such a goddamned banger it's been playing nonstop in my head for at least the past 6 days.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

15 minutes MINIMUM to wash and condition my hair then clean my body. The rest of the time is thinking or unspecified activities.

[–] bitchkat 4 points 7 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Become me a waterbender. Or wolverine.

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