I use a bar of soap that is exclusive to me. I lather somewhere hairy, like my stomach, to build up some suds.Then, I soap everything with the suds and soap.
It wastes a ton of soap compared to a washcloth. And when I'm done I wash the bar off and wash my hands one last time. It's the quickest way I have found to shower. I am usually out in about 15 minutes.
I legitimately don't know how people shower quicker than that. Like, if I'm in a rush I can, but I know I'm missing areas and not getting as clean as I could be.
But to be honest I have OCD that mostly manifests as germaphobia/obsessively sanitizing. I'm not good about understanding how normal people clean themselves.
Seriously! A regular shower for me takes around five minutes. With a face shave, it's still less than ten. Wtf else is there to do? Standing there staring at the wall?
"Regular" shower, boss. I'm not talking about extracurricular showers. The other commenters were amazed that anyone ever takes a less than 15 shower. Which is ridiculous that their bar for a normal shower is that long.
Some people shave other parts of their bodies, some have skincare routines, some have special hair products. If you are just washing with soap and using shampoo it is going to be quicker than someone who has different face and body washes and multiple hair products.
It's like different people have different needs or something.
I hear you there. Personally in the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial masque which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
I have really long, thick, curly hair. My showers can easily take 45 minutes to an hour because of everything I need to do to wash, detangle, and finish my hair routine.
Dissociating, executive dysfunction and general existential dispair is a bitch. So yes, to answer your question, staring at a wall indeed. It's really hard to get in the shower and when I'm there it's hard to leave. But reading all of this has given me some encouragement. I'm gonna take a shower. :)
I don't spend 15, but I do spend more than 5. In my case most of the time spent is lathering up, i.e. the time when the water isn't running. Do you count that in your five minutes? And how do you shave in the shower? Do you have a mirror in there? How doesn't it get all fogged up?
Edit: Now that I think of it, a small mirror in a shower could work, you simply have to pass it through cold water when you want to shave.