Your ultimate tool for self-care; the bath tub!

Your ultimate tool for self-care; the bath tub!

Self-care is getting more and more attention these days. For a long time, the importance of self-care was overlooked, in some cases even dismissed as self indulgence, but finally we are beginning to understand that self-care is not only important, but completely necessary (and actually, is indulging in ourselves from time-to-time such a bad thing?). Self-care is simply looking after yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself in every aspect of your life, feel your best and therefore, perform at your best. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Metaphorically speaking, we can’t expect to perform at our best and give to others, if we have neglected ourselves and are running on empty. Self-care has the potential to improve every aspect of your life, and you don’t have to dedicate hours to it - in fact, there are so many little ways to “fill up your cup”. A bath is a great place to start.

We all know the relaxing feeling of a hot bath after a long day. Every element of the experience, from the warmth on your skin and the feeling of weightlessness, to the soothing aromas of your favourite bath smellies, is just heavenly…

However, did you know that taking a bath isn’t just one of those simple pleasures in life? It actually has many substantial and proven health benefits. And no, we don’t mean in the way that chips are technically a vegetable so arguably are healthy, we mean serious, scientifically-proven health benefits. Below are some of the reasons why a nice warm bath is the ultimate tool for self-care.

1) It can improve your immune system and your mood

As of late, we are constantly being encouraged to take steps to improve our immunity. Unfortunately, many of us lead stressful lives which, therefore, exposes us to stress hormones for extended periods of time. When we are exposed to these hormones, such as cortisol, for extended periods of time, we remain in a state of “fight or flight” which places strain on many systems and processes within the body, including the immune system.

However, the soothing effect of taking a bath decreases levels of hormones linked to stress and anxiety. It gives your body a chance to slow down and recharge, which may help to relieve some of the strain on your immune system, as well as make you feel so much better mentally. Win win!

2) It can relieve symptoms of cold and flu

Being unaware of these magical powers of bath time, you have neglected this activity and, therefore, caught a cold. But fear not as it’s not too late. A nice warm bath and the steam it produces can get the blood flowing again in the vessels in your nose by reducing inflammation. This in turn relieves symptoms of your cold such as headaches and feelings of congestion. Disclaimer: Baths aren’t actually magic, you may still get a cold despite regular bathing!

3) It burns calories!

Okay… don’t cancel your gym membership just yet but yes, taking a warm bath can really burn calories.

4) It can help you sleep better

It is a well-known fact that getting 8 hours of sleep a night has enormous health benefits. However, unlike the benefits that can be derived from vegetables by simply eating them, for many people getting 8 hours of sleep isn’t as simple as jumping into bed, head on the pillow and boom. Oh if only it was that simple to get to sleep and get good sleep. Many of us with every good intention try to get those precious 8 hours yet can’t seem to nod off. Therefore, taking steps to stimulate or improve sleep is vital. And… you guessed it; a bath is one of those steps. At night time, the body naturally decreases in temperature, which stimulates the production of the hormone melatonin which in turn makes us feel tired. Getting in and out of a nice warm bath raises and then drastically decreases your body temperature respectfully. The combination of these two actions mimics natural night time body temperature processes, which in turn, can set off a cascade of reactions which let your body and brain know it’s time to sleep, thus increasing the likelihood of a good night’s sleep.

We all live busy lives with daily stresses and commitments. A lot of us feel guilty about taking time out for ourselves for self-care when it feels like there are so many other things we could (and should) be doing. But we hope that now you know about some of the health benefits of bath time, you may feel a little less guilty. You aren’t just lazing around doing nothing, you’re potentially improving your immunity, your mental and physical wellbeing. By improving yourself in these ways you can become more resilient and productive. So even if all these benefits still haven’t persuaded you to hop in the tub, make sure you still take some time for self-care - whatever that looks like for you.