There are days when I’m not exactly falling apart, but I’m also not thriving, and the easiest way to tell is that everything feels slightly harder than it should, including basic tasks like answering a text message or choosing what to eat. 

On those days, I don’t need a big glow-up plan or a new personality. I need a reset that fits into real life, which for me usually means something I can do quickly, in private, without thinking too much, and then walk back into my day feeling at least 30 percent more capable.

That’s where my ten-minute shower routine comes in, because a fast shower has the magical ability to make you feel like you’re back in your body again, like you’re not just a brain floating through a messy schedule. 

It’s also one of the most underrated “mental health hacks” that isn’t actually a hack, it’s just basic hygiene with better timing and a little intention, and I love it because it doesn’t require motivation, only momentum.

This routine is my go-to when I’m tired, behind, or in a slump, and I need to feel clean and put together without turning it into a whole spa project.

The Two Things That Make This Routine Work Every Time

1. I Keep My Products on a “Grab and Go” Shelf

If my shower is cluttered with half-used bottles and random samples, my brain gets annoyed, and then I rush, and then the whole thing feels chaotic. So I keep a mini set of “reset shower” products together, and I don’t overthink it.

2. I Follow the Same Order

Order removes decision-making, and decision-making is the enemy when you’re tired. I do this in the same sequence every time so I can basically do it on autopilot.

Charlie’s 10-Minute Shower Routine 

Minute 0–1: Start the Water, Start the Reset

I turn the water on, step in, and I do one thing that sounds silly but actually helps: I take one slow breath while the water hits my shoulders. Not a meditation, not a lifestyle, just one breath that tells my nervous system, we are switching modes.

If you have ever carried stress in your neck and shoulders, you know why this matters.

Minute 1–3: Quick Hair Clean, Only Where It Counts

If my hair needs washing, I use shampoo just at the scalp, not the ends, because the scalp is where oil lives. I massage for about thirty seconds, rinse well, and if I have time, I do a tiny bit of conditioner on the ends only.

If my hair doesn’t need a full wash, I skip shampoo and just rinse it, because sometimes rinsing and scrubbing your scalp lightly with water still makes you feel fresher without committing to full wash day.

My practical hack: I keep a wide-tooth comb in the shower, and I detangle conditioner through my ends for ten seconds, because it makes my hair look more polished later with less effort.

Minute 3–6: Body Wash + “Strategic Clean”

This is where I don’t try to be a hero. I use a body wash that smells good, and I focus on the areas that make the biggest difference for feeling clean: underarms, under-bra area, back of neck, and feet.

That’s it, and yes, it counts.

If I have time, I do a quick swipe with a washcloth or exfoliating glove on my arms and legs, but only if it feels easy, because the whole point is not turning this into work.

Minute 6–8: The 60-Second “Feeling Like a Person” Upgrade

This is the part that makes me feel put together, even if everything else is a mess.

I do one of these, depending on my mood:

• A quick sugar scrub on my arms and legs, then rinse
• A body oil or in-shower lotion on damp skin
• A quick face rinse with a gentle cleanser if I was wearing makeup

This step is what makes it feel like more than just a rinse, because it gives your skin that smooth, cared-for feeling that reads as “I’m okay.”

Minute 8–10: The Exit Plan That Keeps the Reset Going

I turn the water off, squeeze extra water out of my hair, and I do a quick towel dry. Then I apply lotion or body oil while my skin is still slightly damp, because it takes ten seconds and makes your skin feel soft all day.

If I’m leaving the house, I do deodorant immediately and a simple hair step, like a leave-in conditioner or a quick hair oil on the ends.

And that’s it. Ten minutes, done.

Affordable Products That Make This Easy 

I’m not brand loyal, but I am results loyal, and these are the kinds of products I keep in my reset shower kit because they’re cheap and they work.

Shampoo + Conditioner

• Dove Daily Moisture or Garnier Fructis (basic, reliable)
• Aussie 3 Minute Miracle if you want a fast “my hair feels softer” moment

Body Wash

• Dove Body Wash (moisturizing, easy)
• Method Body Wash if you want a scent that feels more elevated

Exfoliation

• A cheap exfoliating glove or washcloth, because it works better than most expensive scrubs
• A simple sugar scrub, or you can make one at home if you already have sugar and oil

Body Moisture

• Jergens or Nivea lotion
• Or a basic body oil, even baby oil, if you want quick slip and softness

Hair Finishing

• A small amount of leave-in conditioner
• A drop of hair oil on the ends

You do not need a million products. You need a few items that feel good and are easy to reach.

My DIY “Reset Shower” Sugar Scrub (Fast and Not Messy)

This is the scrub I make when I want that smooth-skin feeling without buying anything extra.

Ingredients

• Sugar
• A little olive oil or coconut oil
• A tiny drop of body wash (optional, helps it spread)

I mix it quickly in my hand or in a small cup, scrub it lightly on arms and legs, then rinse. It takes under a minute, and it makes your skin feel like you tried, even if you did not.

Final Thoughts

This ten-minute shower routine is my “I’m not okay but I’m going to be okay” reset, and I love it because it’s simple enough to do even when I’m tired. It’s not about being perfect.

It’s about giving yourself a small clean slate and walking back into your day with a little more confidence and a little less chaos.

If you want, tell me what your biggest shower struggle is, like oily hair, dry skin, not enough time, or just low motivation, and I can tweak this routine to fit you even better while keeping it fast and realistic.