The ultimate question: Shower before bed or in the morning?
It’s about time to pop this one important question that has been bugging so many people for years – is it better to shower in the morning or at night?
People’s shower time often depends on their lifestyle and hygiene preferences. Some people prefer to soap up at night so they can go to bed feeling warm and relaxed, while others enjoy starting off their day with a refreshing boost.
Many would be relieved to know that science is here to solve the puzzle.
A morning kick-starter
For some people, waking up is a slow process and cannot be accelerated without some water splashed onto their body. A morning shower may just do the trick.
Dr Shelley Carson, a Harvard University psychology lecturer, says a morning shower can give a person the boost they need to kick start the day.
When showering, the human brain enters an alpha brain wave state, where the brain can slowly wake up, regenerate and get ready for a busy day at work.
The alpha brain wave provides the most ideal state for creative activities and that is when the best thoughts and ideas spring. Just like it is often said – nothing is better than a deep breath of fresh air after a steamy shower.
This is also backed up by Dr Carson, who says the brain puts a thought at a back burner of one’s mind and gives it a slow stew while the brain processes it unconsciously in a shower.
So in a sense a morning shower is like a quick and efficient meditation that prepares one’s brain for all the activities to come during the day.
Another perk of showering in the morning, especially for people who tend to sweat a lot or for on a hot summer day, is to wash off all the sticky stuff off the skin and help you start the day feeling and smelling fresh.
And the downside of a morning shower? You will have to get up earlier to get to work on time! But the energising vibe of a morning shower may outweigh the grudge from a few minutes less of sleep.
A late-night owl
Good news for those night owls that want the longest snoozing time possible in the morning: a shower before bed relaxes your brain and helps you fall asleep faster.
This is again supported by science. Research shows that a rapid decline in body temperature after drying off from a warm shower is like “fluffying up the physiological pillow”.
This body temperature drop serves as an indication to the brain that it is time for bed, thereby reducing the time to takes to fall asleep and improving the sleep quality.
A night shower also washes off all the impurities and pollution from your skin. Even if you feel you have not sweated much during the day, air pollution and dirt from chairs and bus seats may also stick to your skin. No one wants to go to bed covered in grime!
If you are a sweaty person and do not have the habit of showering before bed, you are more likely to get aches and blackheads from the excessive oil your skin produces.
The warm steam in the shower opens up your pores and deep cleanses and exfoliates your skin to reduce skin problems.
So a night shower is not only a natural sleep inducer, but also a healthy cleansing ritual for your skin.
Overall, showering in the morning can help you look your best and get on track for the day, while showering before bed is the way to go if you have excessive oil and impurities on your skin or if you find it hard to fall asleep quickly.
Either way, your personal hygiene and sleep quality is what you need to consider when deciding on your showering habit.