Eight Ways to Take a Shorter Shower

Due to the severe drought conditions in much of the Southeastern United States, Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue has declared that October 2007 is "take a Shorter Shower" month. But, many of us morning zombies don't wake up until we've actually been in the shower for a full ten minutes.

We often find that we have wasted plenty of precious water before we are even fully conscious. Clearly taking a shorter shower is an acquired skill. But, as Atlanta's reservoirs drain precipitously below 120 days of water, the skill of short shower taking is clearly worth acquiring. Here are eight easy ways to take a shorter shower:

1) Don't Perform Any Extra Rituals in the Shower. Some people shave in the shower. Some people brush their teeth. There are many things to do in the shower other than wash, shampoo, rinse, and get out. If you drop the extra rituals and stick to the essential business of getting clean, you are bound to save time and water.

2) Pretend You Are in the Navy. On Navy ships, water has traditionally been a precious commodity. To conserve it, sailors were advised to turn on the water, get wet, turn off the water, soap up, shampoo, and then turn on the water again to rinse off. The entire operation should only take five minutes. At least this is what my dad, a Navy veteran, always told my brother and me when we were growing up. Since I've never served in the Navy, it's entirely possible that my dad was just trying to save money on the water bill.

3) Watch the Clock. If you have a wall clock, place it where you can see it from the shower. You may have to replace your current shower curtain with one of the transparent variety. If your bathroom gets so steamy that you can no longer see your clock, it's long past time to get out of the shower.

4) Race the Timer. If a wall clock isn't motivation enough, get an inexpensive kitchen timer. Give yourself seven minutes and try to complete your shower before the egg timer bell goes off. If you are successful, try shaving a minute or two off of your time each week. Eventually, your shower should take no more than 15 seconds. However, if you get soap suds in your eyes on the way to work, you may have to give yourself more time.

5) Dance to the Music. Play a single track on a CD player in the bathroom. When the song is over, so is your shower. But, remember it's not fair to play Golden Earring's "Radar Love."

6) Shower with the Dog. You could always try locking your dog in the bathroom with you. If your dog has been sleeping all night and has to go out, he'll let you know. You can probably count on him barking at you within two or three minutes. The thought of your dog using your bathroom as a bathroom should provide extra motivation to get out of the shower and let him out quickly. Make sure you wear a bathrobe when you let your dog out. Otherwise, the PETA protestors outside your door may see you naked.

7) Have Your Spouse Make it Cold. If you have been cheating with these other methods and giving yourself a little too much extra time, you obviously need someone to stage an intervention. Have your spouse sneak in and turn the water to cold after five minutes. Fear can be a powerful motivation to take a quick shower.

8) Keep it Cold. Nothing makes you move quicker in the shower than running out of hot water. If you start your shower cold and keep it cold for the entire shower, you will find yourself showering at a frenetic pace. By using the polar bear alternative, you will be in and out in no time and you'll be sure to take the shortest possible shower.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, showering accounts for about 17 percent of all indoor residential water use. So, if these tips don't work for you, go out and find a low-flow showerhead!