Eve Tilley-Coulson shared that growing up, taking showers was never a big deal in her household.
Key Highlights:
- Eve often skipped showers, feeling it was just part of her routine.
- It wasn’t until a trip with friends to Nashville that she began to question her approach.
- This led her to rethink her entire showering habit.
For Eve Tilley-Coulson, missing showers was always part of her life. However, a girls’ trip to Nashville about two years ago made her see that her habits weren’t quite normal. Eve recalls showering on a Friday morning before the trip and not again until late Sunday night. “We just went out for brunch and shopping, so I figured, why bother?” she remembered.
Her friend, on the other hand, couldn’t believe it and exclaimed, “You’re not going to shower?” To which Eve replied, “Why should I? Just seems like a waste of time and energy!”
This Nashville getaway stirred something in Eve. Growing up, she said there weren’t strict rules about bathing; her British dad would joke about how people from his country aren’t very keen on showering. Plus, her Montessori preschool emphasized freedom of choice, which made her feel like showering was optional.
Even during her teen soccer days, she often skipped showers whenever fatigue hit. “Fortunately, it never negatively impacted me in high school, so I avoided any fallout from it,” she stated. “Honestly, I’ve just always disliked it.”
After her trip, Eve began to wonder why she hated it so much. One reason? She realized her disdain stemmed partially from sensory issues. “The awkward mix of being half-wet and half-dry really annoys me,” she chuckled.
When she started discussing her habits on TikTok, things got deeper. “I began connecting the dots, thinking maybe my shower aversion was linked to my mental health issues, like on-and-off depression or some OCD tendencies,” she shared. “It wasn’t just some random decision — there were real reasons behind it.”
People resonated with Eve’s candidness. Her video went viral as countless viewers reached out, admitting they shared similar sentiments. “A lot of folks don’t comment out of fear of judgment,” she said. “I got tons of messages like, ‘I feel the same, but I never thought about why! Thanks for sharing.’”
Watch on TikTok
Still, not all feedback was nice. “There was some hate mixed in,” Eve confessed. “Even with the support I got, I started thinking, maybe I could change this narrative? How about challenging myself to enjoy showering instead of dreading it?”
This led to her daily shower experiment where she made several adjustments: like using a towel warmer to combat any discomfort, jamming to music while showering, and reframing showers as a nice act of self-care rather than just a chore.
Since she began documenting her journey, her follower count has skyrocketed to over 200,000 people who connect with her struggles.
“For many facing mental health challenges, showering can feel overwhelming since it’s just you and your thoughts，”she explained. “That silence can be pretty triggering. I thought, what if I turn this into a more inviting space?”
By day nine of her shower challenge, Eve experienced a breakthrough. “I actually found myself craving the shower!” she laughed. “I realized, wait a second — this feels good!”
She recognized that avoiding showers sometimes felt like hiding from everything. “It’s similar to the effect of makeup — when you wear it, you’re present. If I didn’t shower, it felt like a way of retreating into my shell.”
Eventually, committing to daily showers and speaking out about it became a source of accountability for her. “It made me show up more — both in the virtual world and real life. Appearing as my true self actually brought me more worth than trying to go unnoticed,” she stated.
Through this experience, Eve came to understand how habits shape our perspectives.
“When you’re used to skipping showers for several days, it can almost feel normal,” she reflected. “I mean, I never felt gross if I let days go by. But when I committed to daily showers, missing one felt like a crime to cleanliness! Suddenly, I got why others think avoiding showers is disgusting.”
“It’s all about your body getting accustomed to the norms you create,” she noted.
Watch on TikTok
For Tilley-Coulson, this journey has grown into so much more than just a cleanliness issue.
“The response from folks — both in support and judgment — was so interesting to witness,” she remarked. “It made me realize how something as basic as showering can spark larger discussions. People often think there is one ‘normal’ way to do things, but that stance overlooks additional complexities present in many of our lives. Even something as simple as showering can have layers.”
Looking ahead, Eve aims to enhance her shower routine further.
“I’m planning to add a new element or turn it into a special ritual for the next 30 days,” she shared. “After that, I hope to have figured out what I enjoy, dislike, and turn showering into that daily self-care moment I genuinely look forward to.”
For more, check out the original article on People.
