Did you know that in the United States, 42% of showers are taken at night, while 38% are taken in the morning? According to studies from Harvard Medical School, there is a reason for this, supported by psychology to explain it. There is no evidence to specify that one is better than the other; it simply relates cognitive aspects and personality traits of individuals based on the time of day they decide to take a shower.
Aspects such as being more reactive or deliberate in decision-making are mentioned, relating the former to morning showers and the latter to the calm of evening showers. It also refers to the importance of sleep quality, as studies show that taking a shower 1-2 hours before going to bed directly affects better rest. It also discusses the ability to set boundaries between work and personal life, using the shower as a moment marking the end of one and the beginning of the other.
It also relates to sensitivity to disgust, as there are those who cannot stand going to bed with all the germs and pollution of the day. Those who decide to shower at night tend to be more introverted and use the moment of showering as a regulation ritual. Chronotypes also come into play, which are genetic defects through which the maximum energy point is reached later.
Finally, they consider that a choice is made between appearance and being practical. This study reveals that not all organisms are optimized to carry out the same routines, so none is better than the other. You simply have to find the one that provides a better quality of life, preferences, and energy management.
The shower, the best part of the day
Whether it’s day or night, I think we can all agree that taking a shower is one of the best moments of the day. For the 38% of Americans who choose the morning, it’s their way to get going, and for the 42% who choose the evening, it’s a way to wind down and wash off the remnants of a workday.
Although it may seem random, the choice of when to shower has its reasons. It’s psychology, especially a study from Harvard Medical School which has conducted research on this, arriving at some very curious conclusions. Do you want to know what the time of day you choose to shower says about you? Let’s find out.
Night showers or day showers?
This choice reveals more about human personality than we believe, according to psychology. Let’s look at the traits that have been analyzed.
Deliberate processors or reactive responders
Night showers have been linked to people who possess deliberate, calm, and reflective thinking. In contrast, morning showers reflect a sense of urgency: to shower, wake up, and get to work.
Sleep quality vs. Morning rituals
Studies have shown that showering 1-2 hours before going to bed significantly helps improve sleep quality and rest.
Boundaries with work life
Night showers have been linked to the ability and need to delineate the end of the workday from the beginning of personal life.
Sensitivity to disgust
This has nothing to do with being more or less hygienic nor with having an obsession. It responds to the threshold of sensitivity to disgust for those who do not consider the possibility of going to bed with the germs and contaminants of the day, which is why they choose a night shower.
Introvert´s choice
The night shower has been linked to a moment of emotional regulation and solitude for those who are more introverted, who need to return to their balance after a day of social interaction.
Variety of chronotypes
Chronotypes are a genetic trait, by which a person reaches their peak energy later in the day. That is why they often choose night showers.
Being practical or looking good?
It is believed that choosing the night shower implies being practical. Being clean without the need to feel the urgency of looking impeccable and freshly showered in the mornings.
Do you relate to any of these characteristics and your choice of shower?
