Struggling with Hygiene and Mental Health

for me pretending i’m making a tutorial video or actually making a tutorial video of me cleaning my room, how to properly wash your hair, how to do the dishes, etc. helps trick my mind into seeing it as a much simpler task than my mind is making it out to be 💗

This is going to be the dumbest answer but when I struggle having to take a shower… I pretend I’m doing a get ready with me vlog lmaooo

Tbh, I'm not consistent.. and I don't think you need to be. If you're able to shower every few days, that's great! If you don't have the executive function to brush your teeth one night, don't. You could even buy those tiny camping/travel toothbrushes(I think they're called whispies, but idk) and stash them next to your bed. Make it easy. You don't have to perform the task the "normal" way. You're allowed to do it an easier way, as long as the task gets done eventually(because your health matters🥺)

My job holds me accountable since it's food related. Forces me to at least shower frequently. And I keep my deodorant and a fragrance by my keys so I make sure I put them on before I leave the house.

Take baths!

Particularly for the depression element I live by the saying "anything worth doing is worth half doing" so if I cant shower I will use a wet wipe to at least freshen up. If I cant brush my teeth I use mouth wash. If I cant get out of bed I at least stretch in bed. The ADD is difficult but I slowly build routines. Eg. I started with I brushed my teeth before going to sleep then I added washing my face on, then showering, etc

I end up taking really long showers, which is a problem because of the water bill and us already being super tight on money 😥

For me I take small steps. For example I started with making it a goal to brush my teeth once a day. Then when I got comfortable with that I started doing it twice a day.

For me, I'm really into art and creativity. It's the only thing that calms my adhd, depression, and ,anxiety all at the same time so I made a bullet journal for daily/monthly things. My motivation is "if I do this today I get to color." which helps me haha. So I basically treat myself like a toddler haha

I use an app called Finch -- it's the only goal-keeping app I've stuck with for more than a month bc of the way it's designed. It doesn't focus on "streaks" or on losing them, never makes me feel like a screw-up, is all-around gentle, understanding, & fun 😊 (also virtually everything on it is available in the free version if you need!)

For me personally I use them as "I can't do _ before I do _" kinda thing. So like "I can't go to bed till I shower, even if just a quick body shower with soap". Pf course it doesn't work for everyone, but for me it works. Setting up a step by step routine with a checklist helps.

Tbh, I treat myself like a kid. I talk to myself like a child, I don't reprimand myself like my parents did for me. If you skip a couple days, thats okay. Again, see yourself as a child. Be gentle with yourself, and get as much as you can get done, done. And this doesnt just go for hygiene.