The Benefits of a Warm Bath and How I Stack Habits to Get the Most out of this Ritual
Taking a warm bath can offer various physical, mental, and emotional benefits. I’m combining a few of my favourite wellness habits into one great ritual to wind down before bed below.
The Slow Burn Bath Ritual
Materials needed: Epsom salts, essential oils, a good book, herbal tea.
Timing: 30 minutes before bed.
1. Fill the bath and sprinkle with epsom salts. Get in!
2. Roll or drop your favourite essential oil onto the palms of your hands. Cup your palms over your nose and take 6 deep breaths to ground into the experience.
3. Grab your favourite book and sip some herbal tea to wind down. I recommend chamomile, lavender, or peppermint.
Why a bath before bed?
1. It signals your body that it’s time to wind down due to the natural temperature drop when you get out of the bath, improving sleep quality.
2. Warm water relaxes your muscles and calms your nervous system alleviating the stress of the day.
3. Taking a bath can trigger the release of endorphins, which can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Why epsom salts?
They are rich in magnesium, believed to help relax muscles, ease tension, calm the nervous system, and promote better sleep quality.
Why essential oils + deep breaths?
1. The essential oils cause you to focus on your sense of smell which is a mindfulness practice. It takes your potentially racing mind and focuses it on something else.
2. Deep breathing triggers our vagal nerve, responsible for the rest and digest function of our body. This will calm the nervous system and prepare you for sleep.
Why herbal tea?
1. We definitely want herbal tea so that we don’t add caffeine to our system which will disrupt sleep cycles.
2. The teas mentioned above are known for their calming and sleep-inducing properties. Chamomile is a mild sedative, lavender can help with anxiety, and peppermint can relieve tension in your muscles.
Why a book?
You’re also welcome to listen to music or listen to a book but the key here is to reduce screen time and help you wind down.
1. Enjoyable books are known to reduce stress and improve mental health by offering a healthy distraction from day to day life.
2. If done as a regular routine, it can signal to your mind that it’s time for sleep.
3. Reading improves cognitive function, attention span, empathy and understanding.
Give this a try next time you need a restful evening and great sleep!