How dirty have you gotten this month? More than usual? If so, pat yourself on the bath. You’ll know you’ve really gotten down and dirty when letting yourself get a little dirty doesn’t freak you out! 
I intended to write more updates on this little challenge but I always forget how busy November is! Plus, with the cold weather, I know people don’t like to cut back their delectable hot showers – myself included! So if I do this again next year, spring would probably be better. April or May, maybe.
Anyway, I’ve slacked a bit but haven’t given up. I have easily kept up my every-third-day shower routine. That has been so easy that I think I’m going to continue that throughout the winter months. Even though going from every other day to every third day isn’t cutting my showers in half, it’s still a significant decrease.
As for actually cutting my shower time in half – that has been more of a challenge! My first timed shower was 12 minutes, making my goal 6 minutes. I have yet to achieve that, though most of my showers since then have been 7 minutes – pretty close! There were two days when I was so cold that I lingered…and lingered…and lingered. Those showers ended up being 13 and 15 minutes long! Whoops! But I’m not concerned. This is just a fun challenge and I’m still doing well and trying my best.
Ultimately, this challenge is just for fun. It isn’t that easy, of course – most of us love our long, hot showers! But it is supposed to challenge your perception of “clean.” My goal for all of you participants out there was to get people to shower every other day. Some of you already are doing that, which is why I added the option of shortening your shower. But many people can’t fathom showering every other day – and honestly, it’s not so bad and extremely liberating. That’s really what inspired this challenge, and I hope some of you tried getting dirtier and found it to be less scary than you thought! LOL.
I’ll be writing a wrap-up post on this challenge next week and I would LOVE to hear from some of you. If you want to drop me a line at five5seed@gmail.com or on my Facebook fan page, I would love it. Let me know what your goal was for this challenge and whether or not you met it. Maybe let us know your emotional response to letting go of your perception of “clean,” too.
Until then, have a great week and a wonderful Thanksgiving for you American readers!
My reduced time showers are doing great. I haven’t shaved my legs in the shower all month which was my major goal. I use the sink to shave and I took a couple of baths to shave. (Not sure if baths are banned, but my goal was to not shave while showering, which has been accomplished.) I wish I could shower every other day, but my hair gets gross and I don’t like the next day smell. My nose is super sensitive to smells, and I smell the next day if i don’t shower, and I just feel gross. Imagine the extra sleep I could get if I ditched a shower every other day! I envy those who are able to not shower every day and do it with great success!!
@T: I think it’s just one of those things that has to work for a person. I admit, it was hard for me at first! Especially because I decided to de-tox my hair at the same time and go ahead with natural shampoo/baking soda. It was a nightmare for weeks! But I was sure it would be worth it and it was. But again – it really just matters what works for each person.
I love that you shaved outside the shower all this time. That’s awesome – I’d consider that a third option for the challenge! I actually intended to do that and…have yet to follow through. I am able to shave in the shower during my seven minutes, so I haven’t challenged myself beyond that. I should, though!
ouuuu, i ADORE your new blog header!!!!! I was lazy and so didn<t even change for fall……. love love.
also, i will admit that my showers have been the same. i haven't even timed them!!! (GASP). I need to.
@EcoYogini: Thanks! It’s an old picture I took five years ago of an apple tree, so I thought it was appropriate!
I took up this challenge this week! I timed a normal shower at the beginning of the week, and it was 12 mins and 10 secs. My next shower was five minutes 43 secs! Oh yeah!!! And I even shaved! Yesterday my shower was about 2 mins just because I had to be out the door in 10 minutes, so overall I’m proud of myself for joining this challenge, even though I waited until the last week
@Melanie: Yay! Thanks for joining in! With my challenges, I totally don’t care when people join in – a day, a week, the whole month – it’s all good!
I’m impressed by your shower cut – way better than my best time! 
You’ve also inspired me to be more mindful of my shower time and to remember that it’s a time to pamper myself, even if I’m trying to cut my time in half.
I love your blog! I, unfortunately, did not participate in the challenge. Like T, I have a sensitive nose and I start to feel gross all over if I don’t shower everyday. I am sort of a clean freak, and I used to shower twice daily. Now it’s only once a day ( I’m ashamed at all the water I wasted), and I still feel clean and great.
Also, for me, showers are much more than getting clean for me. Instead of going to expensive spas and salons, I engage in my own daily spa experience with homemade and handmade natural soaps, scrubs (a few times a week), facial masques (1-2 times a week), and cleansers, followed by organic body moisturizers (mostly body oils these days). Showers are not only my relaxing spa experience but also the time when a lot of great ideas for my career and the business that I co-own with my husband enter my head. So they are tremendously profitable for me in so many ways. An important part of my day.
Thanks for the challenge. At the very least for me, I am more conscious of how much time I spend in the shower and I try to reduce it. I also try to reduce water use in other ways, especially when I clean around the house.
@ScentualSoundtracks: Thanks for stopping by! I totally agree with the pampering thing. I think we all need to do that, and I think many of us are very attached to our shower time (including me).