Have you had a stressful day? Are you tired and depressed because of the cold winter days? The bath is the ideal solution to relax without paying for a day at the spa.
Making your bath the ultimate relaxation experience is not just a matter of filling your tub with hot water before getting in.
This article explains how to ensure you have the best chance of enjoying a truly relaxing experience that will take your mind off your worries and relax you.
1) Prepare the room
The relaxation area is not limited to the bathtub. It should encompass your entire bathroom. Here are several tips and ideas to follow to make your bathroom a place dedicated to relaxation.
- Close the door
Your relaxation time should be your own. You can share it with your partner if you feel like it, but not with the whole house!
By closing the door, you will avoid family members coming in during your relaxation time. It is especially the case if you have small children or pets, as they are bound to visit you if you leave the door open. So there will be no one to ask you questions or share their problems.
But closing the door will also allow you to be in a bubble. You won’t have to deal with the sound of the TV or your two children bickering, for example.
Note that this also applies to your mobile phone. Indeed, to create a real bubble, it is essential to leave your phone in another room!
- Play with the light
If you have several lamps in your bathroom, you can turn on only one to obtain a subdued atmosphere. A dimmer light than usual will help you relax.
If the lighting in your bathroom doesn’t allow for a subdued atmosphere, there are other solutions. For example, you can turn off all the lights and put up a string of lights. However, ensure the string of lights does not touch the water!
- Add candles
Do you have candles at home? Why not add them in several places around your bathtub? The vibrant flame of the candles will help create a relaxing atmosphere.
You can choose scentless or scented candles. The latter will have the advantage of giving your room a pleasant smell. However, make sure you don’t choose a scent that is too strong, which could give you a headache!
Depending on your taste, you can choose a lavender, chamomile, or pine-scented candle.
Finally, candles in large quantities can also wholly replace electric light.
- Put on some music
Not only will background music benefit from cutting out the sounds outside the bathroom, but it can also relax your mind.
For a truly relaxing experience, choose soft, soothing music, such as classical music, wordless melodies, or natural sounds.
But if you prefer, you can opt for your favorite playlist, even if the music is a bit more upbeat. It all depends on your taste, of course.
2) Add a relaxing touch to your bathwater
You can do many things to make your bath water more relaxing or even create a real spa at home.
Here are some of the options available to you.
- Bath bombs
Once placed in the water, bath balls melt to add a fragrant scent or even color the water completely. Some create small balls or fill the water’s surface with a soft foam as they melt.
In addition to scenting your bath, many balls contain benefits. You’ll find some with soothing properties or others that will ensure you emerge from the tub with baby-like skin.
- Bath salt
Bath salt serves the same purpose as bath balls, but its composition differs. In this case, instead of throwing a ball into the water, you’ll pour in large grains of salt.
Bath salt comes in many colors and can offer many benefits, depending on your desired effect.
- Essential oils
You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your bath to get all its benefits.
To relax, choose one that has relaxing properties. Lavender, for example, is a great choice: it has excellent soothing properties. If you take your bath before going to sleep, you can also choose chamomile, which helps you fall asleep more easily.
Whatever the case, remember to check the precautions for use beforehand. Indeed, some essential oils are more aggressive than others, and they cannot all be used in the same way and the same quantities. Moreover, some oils are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Flower petals
You’ve probably already seen photos of baths filled with rose petals. But they don’t have to exist only on the pages of magazines!
You can find flower petals in some stores. For example, you can sprinkle rose petals on the surface of your bath.
To take advantage of their benefits, you can let them mix in a bit of water beforehand. Then pour the water into your bath.
For example, pour about 80g of lavender flowers into a liter of water for a lavender bath and leave to macerate for half an hour. Then pour the mixture into your bath water. If you prefer not to put the macerated petals in your bath, you can filter the water before pouring it.
As with lavender essential oil, this solution will make your bath very relaxing. But that’s not all: it will also make your skin softer!
You can do the same thing with rose petals. In this case, it is advisable to mix the rose water with warm milk or sweet almond oil for an even more hydrating result.
3) Use additional accessories
In addition to the room and bath water, you can achieve ultimate relaxation with a few accessories.
- A small towel
Take a small towel and soak it in warm water. Wring it out and jumping into the bath. Put your head on the bath’s edge and the warm towel over your eyes.
This way, you can enjoy a nice warm feeling while disconnecting completely. Indeed, with the towel over your eyes, it will be easier for you to concentrate entirely on this moment of relaxation and your feelings. Ideal for a little meditation session in the bath!
- A bubble bath mat
Bath mats, placed at the bottom of the bathtub, are not only made to prevent slipping!
Nowadays, some can turn your bath into a real Jacuzzi. These so-called bubbling mats create bubbles in your bath. The intensity of the bubbles often varies, from small, tickling bubbles to larger, jacuzzi-like bubbles.
These bubbles have strong relaxing power, as they offer you a real hydro-massage and relax the muscles of your body.
- A bath pillow
All these relaxation tips are good, but what if your bathtub isn’t the most comfortable of all? You don’t have to replace it entirely: a bath pillow should change all that!
Like a regular pillow, the bath pillow will offer excellent support to your head. You’ll be able to rest entirely without feeling the bathtub’s hardness or end your bath with neck pain.
If you regularly suffer from neck or back pain, the bath pillow is the ideal solution for taking a relaxing bath without creating further pain.
Choosing the perfect bath pillow can sometimes be quite complicated. Indeed, you will find many shapes and textures. You’ll want to ensure you find one that suits your needs and is not too hard. However, you should also avoid choosing one that is too soft because, in this case, it will not be able to offer sufficient support to your head.
So, are you ready for some absolute relaxation? What are the essential elements of a relaxing bath?