the benefits of taking baths

Daily stress can take many forms. You can be a stay at home mom with three kids that get into, well, kid trouble.

You could work a full time job and then have to come home to a family.

You could be a single mother and work two jobs. Three jobs.

You could be stressed out about bills. About your kids and school. About their friends. About... gosh, so many things, right?

Suffice it to say, guys can have the same problems. Or different problems.

The good thing is that baths are for everyone.

What people have to understand first about baths is that, it's not just about buying some product that is going to make everything melt away. This isn't Calgon talking.



That's some pretty clever marketing, especially for the 1980's. And I'm sure it sold a ton. But silky smooth water is not the point of baths.

It might help, but it's not necessary.

Bath time is a break time. You do it when your mind is harried and your decision making process is just not right. This break will help you center yourself, and let you clear your mind... and after, will help you come at problems correctly.

The first and most important thing about baths is the mood. Quiet, light music, candles, what-have-you.

You're taking a bath to de-stress. And quiet and mood lighting are so important. It's the first step to relaxing.

The water has got to be warm to hot. Luke warm, tepid water isn't going to relieve tension in your muscles. Warm water dilates blood vessels and helps with circulation.

If you can remember any time that aches and pains were relieved when you took a swim, or floated in the ocean... well, the same happens while you're in a bath. Joints, bones, muscles... all of them are relieved in water. The weight of your body isn't adding pressure to them, they get a chance to relax... not unlike the relief (boy, there's that word again) they receive while you're sleeping.

OK!

Quiet, or light music. Check.

Candles lit. Check.

Oh, don't... don't like hook up a radio or a tv or something, near the bath. That... that's not safe.

So! You're in the warm-to-hot water... mood's set... what's next?

So many things to choose from, it's hard to decide.

Do you use soap? Bath oil? Body scrub? Bath salts?

Fragrance during a bath is a huge plus. Certain fragrances allow you to relax, some trigger emotional responses, some bring you back to a happy time and place in your memory... these are all subjective. Find something that will help continue your calm mood. Remember, this is YOUR time... so make the best of it.

We recommend using a product that will not only get you clean, but will also moisturize.

Baths aren't always about replacing your clean time in a shower. Sometimes you want to just concentrate on relaxing. Sometimes you want to concentrate on your legs and feet.

For that... we have to recommend sugar scrubs. These are not too oily, they won't leave a residue around your tub, and their exfoliating ability (along with their texture) will feel divine while taking a bath.

We feel that baths should take anywhere between 15-20 minutes. After that, the house will be in a sort of chaos because, let's face it... and chances are, you'll be hearing fire trucks or police coming after 20 minutes if you're not around.

Thanks for reading. We're sure that most people know the benefits of baths, but it's always nice to have a reminder every once in a while.

We're all fans of baths here at Soapier. We're sure that if you take the time to take care of yourself each day, even if it's a foot soak for a few minutes, you'll feel better about your day, feel healthier, and be able to tackle everything that comes your way!

Linda @ Soapier