If you’ve been under a lot of stress lately, taking a relaxing bath is a powerful way to cope with the stress. But we often think that enjoying a soothing bath takes a very long time or is reserved for holidays and spa resorts. This can’t be further away from the truth. So in this comprehensive guide, I’ll talk you through exactly how to take a relaxing bath at home for the ultimate mind and body detox experience, even if you only have as little as 20 minutes.
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1. Create a calming bath atmosphere
Here are 7 top tips for creating a luxury, soothing bath experience at home.
- Move the laundry basket out of sight. You want to relax, not be reminded of the never-ending house chores.
- Switch off your phone. You want to be left alone with your thoughts
- If you have children it can be pretty difficult to get a quiet moment just for yourself. I have a lively 1-year old and here’s what I do to carve out a moment of bliss in the bath:
- Indulge in a relaxing bath experience after bedtime.
- Ask your husband/partner to take them out for a walk.
- Find something to keep them occupied for 30 or so minutes, even if that’s screen time. You deserve to relax too!
- Play your favourite music. And that doesn’t have to be a yoga tune. If music from the 90-s makes you feel good, then so be it! Relaxation is not necessarily about being in a quiet, tranquil environment. But rather about detaching from everything day-to-day and relaxing your mind from everything which is going on.
- Use good-quality bath salts. They can really make a difference in how detoxed your body feels after the bath experience.
- Have some dried roses or an old bouquet? Sprinkle a couple of leaves to make it feel like a luxury spa.
7. And finally, light a calming candle, such as the Woodwick Calming Retreat crackling candle (£19.90, Amazon UK and $30, Amazon US). It features the three popular aromatherapy fragrances – lavender spa, sea salt & cotton and white tea & jasmine – for an intriguing scent experience as the layers melt together. The wooden wick crackles as it burns for a sophisticated and calming at-home spa experience.
2. Get comfortable in the tub
You’ve created a relaxing atmosphere you feel good in. But for the ultimate relaxing bath experience, you also want to feel as comfortable as possible inside the bathtub.
Firstly, ensure that the temperature is just right. This is very subjective of course. But make it too hot to your liking and you will start sweating. Make it too cold and you may even start shivering as your skin is in direct contact with the cool water.
Next, get some extra head and neck support. Even the most sophisticated bathtubs feel uncomfortable after lying on the build-in neck support for a couple of minutes as it usually is too hard and not ergonomic. A bath pillow can however help you release all the tension and stress of a hard day at work. I started using this one from Amazon for £29 ($29.95 in the US) and I’ve since enjoyed soul-soothing baths like never before.
3. Spend your time in the bath wisely
It’s important to decide how you will spend your time in the bath. You certainly don’t want to feel bored because this is a prerequisite for thinking (and worrying!) about work, chores, kids etc.
Here are some ideas of what to do in the bathtub:
- Reflect on the good things which have happened to you lately. Practising gratitude reduces stress hormones such as cortisol by as much as 23%! This makes you feel less stressed and more relaxed. Recalling positive feelings of appreciation also switches your positive mindset.
- If you take your phone or tablet with you, send a nice ‘thank you’ note to 5 people who helped you in any way recently. Acting with kindness is proven to improve mental health. So combined with the soothing bath experience it will make you feel relaxed and refreshed.
- Play a movie. Animal documentaries or fun animal videos are known to boost serotonin levels, a.k.a. the happy hormone.
- Meditate. How often are you alone with your body and thoughts? Take a minute to focus on your breathing alone, how your chest goes up and down as you breathe in and out. Then pay attention to every part of your body and how it feels at this exact moment. Practising mindfulness is an incredibly powerful way to boost wellbeing, as well as productivity.
5. Enjoy a glass of wine and some healthy snacks, such as fruit. The wine will calm your mind and the healthy snack will boost your feelings of health and wellbeing. To make yourself as comfortable as possible, gift yourself a nice bath tray such as this bamboo expandable tray from Amazon. Get it for £29 in the UK and for $35 in the US.
4. Finish your relaxing bath experience with a calming sleep routine
Once you’ve finished your relaxing bath experience, don’t rush back to the chores, kids, and work. Here are some tips to finish your calming bath routine to prolong the wellness sensation.
- In the cold winter months, heat your towel. Your body may start to shiver from the sudden shift from warmth to cold, especially if you prefer hot baths!
- Once you’ve put your pyjamas on, wrap yourself in a soft and warm dressing gown. This will prolong the sensation of warmth and comfort. I love my super soft fleece dressing gown from Etsy which I personalized with my initials at no extra cost!
3. Then have the good restoring sleep you so desperately need! This will further relieve the pressures and stress from the day and boost your wellbeing. And if you can’t get the recommended 8 hours of sleep, focus on improving the quality of your sleep instead! A good sleep set, such as this one from Sanctuary Spa, includes a sleep mist spray, a warming body balm, a recovery face mask and a satin eye mask. The calming fragrance is scientifically proven to help fall asleep quicker and for longer. Get the set HERE in the UK and a very similar one HERE in the US.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for ways how to take a relaxing bath at home, here are the essentials for creating a soothing atmosphere for the ultimate bath experience.
Start with creating a calm atmosphere. Once you feel truly relaxed in and where you can actually detach from the stresses, anxieties and pressures of your day.
Then get comfortable in the bathtub. You want to truly relax. Not constantly readjust your position.
You also have to decide how you will spend your time in the bath. You certainly don’t want to feel bored because this is a prerequisite for thinking (and worrying!) about work, chores, kids etc.
And finally, finish your relaxing bath routine not by rushing back to the chores, work etc. Prolong the feeling of warmth and body comfort. And then enjoy a good quality, restorative sleep.
Looking for more ways to cope with work and life pressures? Check these 12 powerful stress management techniques.
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