Recently, I discovered a calming, relatively affordable practice that leaves me feeling happier, and able to settle into sleep more easily. After being forced by some minor bathroom renovations that left our shower out of commission for a week, I was forced to take regular baths. The results surprised me.
It’s not like I haven’t enjoyed baths many times over the years, it’s just that I’ve been in the habit of showering for decades. It’s fast and easy, and gets the job done. I saved a bath for a special occasion. It felt like a waste of time and water to bathe, a luxury from a time gone by. Remember those Calgon ads from the 1980s that promoted a bath as a way for a mother to escape domestic stress?
Surprising Benefits From Something So Simple As A Bath
However, I noticed that taking a regular evening bath, even in just half a tub of water (to be more conservation-minded), had a calming effect the minute I stepped into the water. I relaxed. I don’t think you can be tense when immersed in warm water. It didn’t even need to be a long bath – 10-15 minutes would suffice. But, compared with a shower, the benefits were startling. My mind slowed down and logged off for the day. I felt happier, like I’d taken good care of myself.
The science confirms the benefits to physical health, mental health, and general well-being that I was noticing:
The SF-8 Health Survey showed … Profile of Mood State scores were lower for stress, tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, and depression-dejection. Immersion bathing, but not shower bathing, exerts hyperthermic action that induces increased blood flow and metabolic waste elimination, which may afford physical refreshment. Immersion bathing should improve both physical and emotional aspects of quality of life. *
Bathing For All
I am concerned that taking a bath has become female-coded, especially in North America. (Is that Calgon ad partly to blame?) I’ve never seen bath products marketed to men in the drug store with scents such as, a bold woody-amber with whiskey undertones. Maybe, the current resurgence in male perfumes will expand to bath products? I hope so. Everyone should feel comfortable taking advantage of the positive effects of a nice, warm bath.
I can’t believe it took me this long to realize the benefits of regularly taking a bath.
I am sure there are things that can’t be cured by a good bath but I can’t think of one.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
I’d love to hear your thoughts about the bath/shower debate. Comment below.
*https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6011066/#sec5
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