šÆ āTake care of your body. Itās the only place you have to live.ā ā Jim Rohn
Once a week, I do something simpleābut powerfulāfor my health. I step into the shower, wet my whole body, then turn off the water. I grab my soap, lather from head to toe (or at least as far as I can reach!), and leave the soap on for a slow 30-countāāAnd-1, And-2…ā all the way to 30.
Then, I rinse it all off. And along with it? Dead bacteria, viruses, and old skin cells.
Itās my personal full-body reset. And I believe itās one of the reasons I stay healthy, fit, and strong at 64 years old.
As with all of these tips, this is my personal opinion of what works for me. I’m not a doctor, so check with your medical professional on anything I say here.
š” Why I Started This Weekly Ritual
As I got older, I started thinking about how to stay strong, not just clean. Most days, a quick rinse does the job. But once a week, I realized, my body needed more.
A deeper clean. A reset. Something to sweep away the invisible stuff that builds up over timeāgerms, grime, dead skin, and who knows what else.
Thatās when I created this simple habit: A weekly deep clean.
š§ Does It Actually Work? Hereās What Science Says
āļø Soap works by breaking down fats. The outer wall of bacteria and viruses is made of fat. Soap breaks it down and makes them slip off your skin.
āļø Friction + Time = More Clean. Thatās why hand-washing needs 20 seconds. On your body, leaving soap for 30 seconds helps break down more germs.
āļø But… balance matters. Your skin has friendly bacteria, too. Overdoing it can mess with the natural balance that keeps skin healthy.
āļø Is it safe? For most people, once a week is totally fine. Just avoid super harsh soaps and moisturize afterward to protect your skin barrier.
šæ My Exact Process (So You Can Try It Too)
- Hop in the shower. Get everything nice and wet.
- Turn the water off. Yup, off. Saves water, too!
- Lather up. From neck to toes (or as much as you can reach).
- Count slowly. āAnd-1, And-2…ā until you hit 30.
- Turn the water back on. Rinse everything off.
- Pat dry.
ā Benefits Iāve Noticed Since Doing This
š”ļø I get sick less. Fewer sniffles. Less skin irritation. I haven’t had a flu for years.
š I feel lighter. Like Iāve shed somethingānot just dirt, but stress too.
āØ My skin looks better. Softer. Fresher.
šŖ Itās a mental win. Every time I do this, I feel like Iām telling my body, āI care about you.ā
āļø The Good and The Not-So-Good (Letās Be Honest)
| š Pros | ā ļø Cons |
|---|---|
| Removes bacteria, viruses, grime | Can dry skin if not moisturized |
| Supports immune health | Might strip helpful skin bacteria |
| Feels clean, fresh, and energized | Harsh soaps make it worse |
| Reduces body odor and buildup | Needs a good lotion afterward |
šØāāļø What Experts Say About Skin Health
- You donāt need to soap your whole body every day.
- Areas like underarms, groin, and feet need daily washing. The rest? Once or twice a week is fine.
- Moisturizing is key. As we get older, our skin gets drier. Keeping it hydrated protects the skin barrier.
(Source: American Academy of Dermatology, Medical News Today)
š„ Want to Go Even Further? Pair This With:
š Sunshine: Vitamin D boost.
šāāļø Movement: Walking, stretching, lifting.
š Nutrition: (I eat Carnivoreāzero carbs!)
š§ Mindset: Stress reduction, breathing, gratitude.
š„ Final Thought: Small Habit, Big Payoff
Iām not trying to live forever. Iām trying to live well.
This one simple habitājust a few extra minutes once a weekāmakes me feel cleaner, fresher, and healthier. I believe itās one more brick in the wall of good health that Iām building every day.
āSuccess is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.ā ā Jim Rohn
š Try It Yourself!
Give it a go this week. Do the 30-second lather challenge. Then meet me back here tomorrowāIāll share another one of my favorite health tricks for staying strong, sharp, and full of energy after 60. Letās build this together.
See You Tomorrow! š
Warmly,
Paul
