When I recently moved into my new apartment with my husband, I was ecstatic about our little place. Only one thing was missing--a bath. As someone whose nightly ritual was to wind down with a bubble bath and a good book, I had to quickly learn to adjust my relaxing methods. Here are five ways I make my shower (almost) as good as a bath.
1. Swap the Bubbles for a Scrub
When I moved, I had a toiletry bag filled with different bubble bath items, one scent for almost every night of the week. Recently I've made the remarkable discovery that body scrubs are the shower equivalent of bubble bath. It marks the difference between a shower for relaxation and a shower to get clean.
2. Bring the Plants Inside
I remember being in China at a spa, and the apartment I was staying in had an outdoor shower attached to my room. The greenery around me made me feel like I was showering in an enchanted forest where the rain was always warm. I like to bring pot-plants into the bathroom while I shower, now. Granted, this does nothing but make your bathroom look gorgeous, but that's a pretty good reason to do it.
3. Add Some Essential Oils
Essential oils may have become a trend recently, but that doesn't make them any less of the rich resource that they are. Whether you believe in their health properties or not, the particular smells themselves are enough of a reason to invest in a tiny bottle or two and keep them on your bathroom shelf. Research shows that the sense of smell is pretty powerful, so make sure you get something that makes you feel positive. Try something fresh like lemon for morning showers, lavender for winding down and eucalyptus for when you're sick. I dot the four corners of my shower floor with drops of these to give off a good scent while I shower.
4. Add Fire
Even if it's the morning, light a candle or two to give your shower a more ethereal feeling. No natural element is as magical as fire--have you ever gone to a spa that didn't have a candle or two lit around the room?
5. Get a Fluffy Towel
Your towel does make a difference to your experience. After engaging all of your senses in a refreshing shower, make sure you choose your towel wisely. You'll want to feel clean, warm and comfortable. Next time you go towel shopping, pick up something thick and big. I have one towel that my grandma got me, and it makes me feel like I'm wrapping myself up in a blanket when I step out of the shower--get one of those!
Of course, none of these things are mandatory for taking a relaxing shower, but the essential element is there. Making your everyday habit into a deliberate ritual is an act of intentionality. It calls for thinking ahead and gathering the resources you need to feel refocused and relaxed.
