The Rise of Bad Hygiene

Do you smell that? It’s the unmistakable stench of bad hygiene that has been on the rise, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic had ushered in the global quarantine.  Ever since that horrible chain of events took place, not only have people become more relaxed about their personal hygiene but society, in general, has seemingly put less emphasis on hygiene.  For instance, the concept of social distancing has been one of the most popular safety strategies incorporated into many of our daily lives. But one of the biggest consequences of implementing that strategy is the comfort one takes in not emphasizing their own hygiene.  That coupled with the fact that many where stuck at home for extended periods of time made for a recipe of disaster as far as personal hygiene was concerned. Of course, the hands were washed ad naseum. And, on average, the face, mouth, butt, and genitals would be regularly cleaned. But the rest of the body was a crap shoot. Some choose to wash their entire body on a daily basis while others are less disciplined with their body hygiene. It really should be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Since that first wave of the pandemic affects society we have seen more factors that have led to even more relaxed attitudes towards personal hygiene. One of the most impactful is the increase in telecommuting for many of those in the workforce.  I believe that factor is prevalent in many countries around the world, including here in the U.S. The option of working from home has appealed to many workers because of the freedom it affords them, the ability to save on resources (gas, money, vehicle wear and tear, time, etc.), and the comfort of working in their pajamas, if they choose.  With the appeal of working in your pajamas comes the decrease in desire to actually get prepared for the day (ie bathing, grooming, and putting on clothes intended to wear outside). That inevitably has produced less frequency in showering or bathing for millions of people. And once that became a normal routine, for many it has been a struggle ever since to implement a consistent daily hygiene regimen like what they had pre-pandemic.

But all is not lost. As I have stated previously, the struggle to return to the old normalcy regarding personal hygiene is real, but it is also a sign of a renewed desire to emphasize personal hygiene again at a societal level. As of autumn of 2022 more people are commuting to work either full time or at least for part of the work week. Also, social distancing is not pushed nearly as much by society or the government like during the height of the pandemic. President Biden even recently declared that the pandemic is over. Sure, it’s premature for him to do so, but the psychological effects of such an announcement will likely result in even more people returning towards their daily hygiene routines.

At the end of the day, hygiene will always be an individual choice and effort. None of us are defined by what the societal standards for hygiene are.  However, it should be a concern for all of us that those standards have seemed to be slipping in recent years. As a result, such lowered standards will inevitably influence the hygiene habits and routines of many people, especially the youth of our communities. And if that occurs, such low vibrational energy will continue to spill into other facets of life contributing to the further degradation of society.  

But I don’t want to end this blog on a dismal note. To give it a positive conclusion I will say that according to Allied Market Research, the global personal hygiene market was valued at $508.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $720.7 billion by 2030. And that can give us all hope that society is trending back upward regarding personal hygiene standards. So, cheers and stay clean, my friends.