Try taking a shorter shower

Long showers used to be my sacred ritual — part concert hall, part brainstorming booth, part therapy session. The sound of running water somehow made everything feel clearer. But a few months ago, I decided to see what would happen if I cut my shower time a little shorter… or just took one shower a day instead of two.

It sounded like a big change at first. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

What surprised me most was how quickly it became normal. Trimming just a couple of minutes barely changed anything about the routine — but it did make a small dent in my water and energy use. I later learned a 10-minute shower uses about 80 liters of water and emits around half a kilo of CO₂ — every single time. Multiply that by a year, and it’s a surprisingly large footprint for something that feels so ordinary.

There’s also something nice about not rushing back to the bathroom out of habit. On quiet days, the body doesn’t really need it, and the skin seems to appreciate the break from hot water. Plus, fewer showers mean fewer bottles of shampoo and body wash to buy — small savings that quietly add up.

Now, I usually aim for an 8-minute shower. Sometimes I even go every other day if I’ve had a quiet work-from-home stretch. The difference? I’ve noticed my skin isn’t as dry, my utility bill has dipped a little, and — maybe it’s just in my head — I feel less wasteful.

The best part is that it doesn’t feel restrictive. It’s just a small shift in habit. I even made a little game out of it: I play one of my favorite songs (about 8 minutes long) and challenge myself to finish before the track ends.

What once felt like a tiny personal luxury turned out to be an easy, satisfying shift. Shorter — or less frequent — showers still feel just as refreshing, and I get to step out knowing I’ve saved a bit of water, energy, and money — without giving up the joy of a good rinse.

It is a reminder that not every climate action has to feel like a sacrifice. Sometimes, it’s simply about enjoying the same moments — just a bit differently.