How to Take a Truly Relaxing Bath

A bath can be the most ordinary thing in the world or a small luxury, and the difference rarely comes down to expensive products. It comes down to attention. When the water is right, the room is calm and nothing is waiting for you on the edge of the tub, a soak becomes one of the simplest ways to put down the day.

Choose your moment

A bath squeezed between dinner and a late email will never feel relaxing. Pick a time when nobody needs you for half an hour. For many people that is early evening, an hour or two before bed, when a warm soak followed by a cooler bedroom can make sleep feel closer. A bath on a slow weekend morning has its own charm too. What matters is that the time belongs to you.

Prepare the room first

Before you turn on the tap, take five minutes to make the bathroom pleasant:

• Clear the clutter. Bottles, laundry and stray towels pull your eye. Move them out of sight.
• Soften the light. Switch off the bright overhead lamp. A small lamp in the hallway with the door ajar, or a couple of candles placed safely away from towels and curtains, changes the mood completely.
• Warm the space. A chilly room makes you want to sink lower and lower. If you can, let the bathroom warm up a little before you undress.
• Lay out what comes after. A clean towel, a soft robe and something warm to wear mean the calm does not end the moment you stand up.

Get the water right

Very hot water feels wonderful for a minute and then leaves many people flushed and restless. Aim for comfortably warm: test it with your wrist or elbow rather than your hand, which is less sensitive to heat. If you like a thermometer, a temperature similar to a warm summer day feels right to most people. Fill the tub deep enough to cover your shoulders when you lie back, or keep a jug nearby to pour warm water over them.

If you have heart problems or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or tend to feel faint in the heat, keep the water warm rather than hot, stay in for a shorter time and stand up slowly. Your doctor can tell you what is sensible for you.

Add a little scent, or none

Scent is personal. Some people love a few drops of a familiar oil or a gentle bath soak; others prefer clean water and nothing else. If you add anything, keep it mild, choose products made for the bath, and avoid stirring neat essential oils straight into the water, which can irritate skin. A handful of plain Epsom salts or a simple oat soak are gentle options. And if your skin is sensitive, plain water is perfectly fine.

Leave the phone outside

This is the hardest step and the most important one. A phone on the side of the tub brings the whole day back into the room. If you want sound, choose a playlist or an audiobook before you get in, set it running from another room and leave it be. Silence works too. The sound of water and your own breathing is surprisingly soothing once you stop filling it.

Something to do, or nothing at all

Some people relax best with their hands occupied. A paper book or a magazine you do not mind getting slightly damp is a classic for good reason. Others prefer to lie back and let their thoughts drift. If you want a little structure, try this:

1. Lie back and let your shoulders drop below the water.
2. Breathe in through your nose for a slow count of four, then out for a count of six.
3. Starting at your feet, notice each part of your body in turn and let it go heavy.
4. When your mind wanders to tomorrow, notice the warmth of the water and come back.

That small practice borrows from meditation, and if you enjoy it you may like our ideas for relaxing before bed.

How long to stay

Fifteen to twenty minutes is plenty for most people. Longer soaks in hot water can leave skin dry and some people light-headed. When you are ready, pull the plug first and sit for a moment as the water drains, then stand slowly, holding on to the side or a rail if you have one. Pat your skin dry and put on moisturiser while it is still slightly damp.

A few safety notes

After the bath

The minutes after a bath are part of it. Drink a glass of water, wrap up warmly and keep the lights low. If it is evening, resist the urge to start a new task. Let the warm, heavy feeling carry you towards a quiet hour and an early night.