Health experts suggest efficient hygiene and brief micro-practices for well-being

Research suggests that efficient personal hygiene and brief mental health exercises can optimize both resource consumption and daily well-being.

Dr. Pablo Pereira-Doel, an environmental researcher at the University of Surrey, states that three minutes are sufficient for body hygiene, with an additional two minutes recommended for hair care. To conserve resources, individuals can reduce washing time to one minute by turning off the water while soaping. Studies indicate that over 40% of showers serve purposes other than hygiene, such as relaxation or warmth, often leading to much longer durations.

In terms of mental health, author Eli Susman highlights “micro-practices” that last only 20 to 30 seconds to improve mood and energy. These include “laughter yoga,” which involves mimicking laughter to reduce anxiety, and “micro-yoga,” which consists of brief stretches to relieve tension from screen use. Research shows that short stretching breaks every 15 minutes can increase productivity by approximately 15%.