Are you going through a particularly stressful time? Taking a shower can be as relaxing as taking a bath, with the added bonus of not having to wait for the tub to fill. You can do many things to make the experience incredibly enjoyable, this article recommends a few.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create the Right Mood
Step 1. Create a relaxing background music
Turn on the radio or connect a portable music player to a pair of loudspeakers. You can choose any song, as long as it helps you relax. If you don't have any particular preferences, here are some suggestions:
- Zen music;
- Jazz music;
- Classic music;
- Instrumental music, especially that performed on the piano;
- Sounds of nature, such as that of falling rain, streams or the song of birds.
Step 2. Dim the lights and light a few candles
Generally, bathroom lights tend to be very bright. If you have a headache, it could make it worse. Candles emit a soft glow, capable of creating a calmer and more relaxing atmosphere in the room. Place them on a stable surface to make sure they don't fall out.
- If you are worried about using real candles, you can replace them with artificial ones, equipped with LED light and battery. The most modern are very similar to the real ones, colored and perfumed, able to reproduce even the flickering of the flame.
- Alternatively, you can use a Himalayan salt lamp. Some require the use of electricity, others work with a candle. In addition to emitting a pleasant soft light, they can help purify the air.
Step 3. Try hanging lavender on the shower head
Gather a few twigs with string to form a bunch. Create a loop hanging from the shower head to tie the bunch to. The heat and steam will help release its wonderful relaxing fragrance.
- Many people find the scent of eucalyptus and lemongrass doubly beneficial, as it is relaxing and invigorating.
- You can also use an essential oil diffuser placed next to the shower.
Step 4. Add some plants
Not only will they give the bathroom a pleasant touch of color, they will also make the environment more serene and relaxing. Choose plant varieties that like humid environments and don't need a lot of sunlight - for example, orchids, ivy, and philodendron.
- The philodendron doesn't even need to live in the ground. It is in fact able to thrive even in a small pot filled with fresh water.
- If you've never had a green thumb, consider using fake plants. If possible, avoid flowers, preferring varieties like ivy. That way they won't look out of place.
Step 5. Take out your most beautiful towels
Choose the largest, softest and most caressing ones ever. If you have some with elegant decorations or finishes, even better. Using them will help you prolong the relaxing effect induced by the shower.
- In particular, large, white, fluffy towels will make you feel like you are in a spa. Spas are generally incredibly relaxing places.
- If possible, also prepare a soft, clean bathrobe to wrap yourself in right after you get out of the shower.
Step 6. Transfer the toiletries into stylish glass or plastic containers
The bathroom will immediately take on a neater and more luxurious look, making the shower experience even more relaxing. Choose transparent or finely decorated dispensers in which to pour the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.
If you use a bar of soap, place it on a refined soap dish or on an elegant saucer
Method 2 of 3: Further Improve the Experience
Step 1. Exercise or take care of daily chores before taking a shower, the effect will be even more pleasant
It does not need to be particularly tiring, even a simple walk or a few hops on the spot is enough, or, if you prefer, you can train more intensely outdoors or in the gym; the choice is yours. After exercising, your body will be tired and sweaty, so you will be even more stimulated to take a hot shower. Eventually you will feel fully relaxed.
Step 2. If you are feeling stressed, meditate or daydream about something beautiful
Focus your mind on something you would like to do or on a pleasant moment in the past. You can also try using visualization to build a mental picture where all your worries slip off your shoulders and into the shower drain.
Step 3. If you have a dryer, use it to warm the towels before entering the shower
At the right time they will seem even more soft and welcoming. If you intend to use a bathrobe, don't forget to warm that too.
Step 4. Try to prepare everything you will need before, during and after the shower, to have it at hand
Realizing that you don't have shampoo available and being forced out of the shower to look for it in the cold bathroom would be an experience that is anything but relaxing. So make sure everything is ready and available for use, also checking all dispensers to make sure they are full.
Step 5. Set the water temperature according to your preferences
Remember, though, that excessive heat is unhealthy for the skin and could cause it to become dehydrated. If you intend to use very hot water, limit the time you spend in the shower: never more than 20 minutes. Also, afterwards, nourish your skin with a good moisturizer.
Step 6. Indulge yourself with your favorite bath products
If you have a fondness for a particular type of shower gel that you only keep for special occasions, now is the time to use it. Also use a body scrub to remove dead skin cells and your favorite body butter to pamper your skin after a shower. If you don't have any particular preferences in terms of fragrance, try using lavender products. In aromatherapy, lavender is used to relieve stress.
If you love creating your own cosmetics, you can try your hand at preparing scrubs, shower gels and DIY creams. There is nothing better than using natural products whose ingredients you know. Click here for some recipes
Step 7. Massage your scalp thoroughly when shampooing
In addition to invigorating the skin, you will be able to free it from tension. Tilt your head back, close your eyes, then gently massage your scalp with the fingertips of both hands.
Step 8. If you feel stressed, massage your face as well
Close your eyes again, then massage the entire face in circular and harmonious movements. If you have a face scrub available, now is the right time to use it.
If you feel particularly tense, gently massage the eye area, forehead and temples
Step 9. Don't forget to continue the relaxing treatment after a shower
The state of relaxation must not stop when the shower ends. There are other things you can do to prolong that pleasant feeling. Here are some helpful tips:
- Apply a lavender-flavored body butter. It is a cosmetic that allows you to trap moisture inside the skin, thus making it softer and more velvety. To make the experience even more relaxing, slowly massage it all over your body.
- Wrap yourself in a soft, warm bathrobe after drying. You will feel like you are in a spa, especially if you decide to indulge in a beauty treatment such as a pedicure.
- Enjoy a cup of warm chamomile tea. If you don't like the taste of chamomile, you can opt for another herbal tea or a caffeine-free tea.
- Take a nap or enjoy reading a book or watching a movie. Even if the day isn't over and you still have things to do, try to give yourself a free hour to devote to a relaxing or activity you love. In addition to relieving stress, you will prepare yourself to face subsequent commitments with greater determination.
Method 3 of 3: Create Your Own Bathroom Products
Step 1. Consider making your own bathroom products
Scrubs, body creams, aromatherapy shower tablets, etc., can be even more effective and relaxing than ready-made ones purchased in perfumery. Also, you can customize them to your liking. Last but not least, they do not contain chemicals that are harmful to the health of the body. This section is aimed at suggesting you some ideas for making homemade bathroom products. Create them well in advance to be able to use them in the shower whenever you feel the need.
Step 2. Make a sugar scrub
Mix 4 tablespoons of white sugar, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 1 drop of lavender essential oil. These doses are sufficient to prepare a single-use scrub. Recreate the recipe whenever you want to indulge in a spa-worthy beauty treatment.
You can buy essential oils in herbal medicine or health food stores
Step 3. Make aromatherapy shower tablets
Mix 170 g of baking soda, 115 g of citric acid, and 115 g of cornstarch (or cornstarch). Add 15-20 drops of lavender essential oil. Vaporize the mixture with water 10-20 times, taking care to avoid its effervescent effect. Transfer it to a silicone ice cube mold, then let it solidify overnight. As an alternative to the ice pan, you can use two spoons to form quenelles, then transfer them to a tray lined with wax paper. At the time of use, place one on the shower tray, then open the water to start bubbling: it will release all its wonderful aroma.
If you don't have cornstarch available, you can use cornmeal
Step 4. Create a scented bubbly powder
Blend 360g baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dried lavender flower powder, and 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flower powder. Add 10-20 drops of each of the essential oils listed below, then mix the ingredients patiently. Store the result in an airtight container. At the appropriate time, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of the fizzy powder on the shower tray. In contact with water, the powder will make bubbles while releasing its delicious scent.
- Bergamot;
- Cedar wood;
- Eucalyptus;
- Lavender;
- Lemon;
- Peppermint;
- Rosemary;
- If you can't find one of the listed oils, double the dose of one of the others.
Step 5. Make the perfect body butter to nourish your skin after a shower
Take two pots to melt the ingredients in a double boiler. All you need is 115g of each of the following products: shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil. Pour them into the smaller pot, then add 120ml of a carrier oil, such as almond, jojoba, or extra virgin olive oil. Stir until the ingredients are completely melted and blended, then remove the pot from the heat and add 10-30 drops of lavender essential oil. Place your creation in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until it has thickened.
- Store the body butter in an airtight container. If the temperature exceeds 24 ° C, you will need to keep it in the refrigerator to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- If you love the scent of vanilla, you can combine it effectively with that of lavender. If so, add 5-15 drops of both essential oils.
- Just like you would any other cream just before use, massage the body butter into your skin.
- If you want your body butter to have the consistency of a fluffy mousse, remove it from the refrigerator when it is firm, but still slightly soft. Whip it with an electric whisk for about ten minutes or until it becomes soft and light. Put it back in the refrigerator for another 10-15 minutes to have time to thicken.
Step 6. Make a nourishing bar of soap
Take two pots to make a double boiler, then mix 225g of coconut oil, 225g of shea butter (or cocoa butter), and 225g of beeswax in the smaller pot. If you want the bar of soap to be even more nourishing for the skin, also add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Turn on the flame, then let the ingredients dissolve, stirring frequently. Add about 10-30 drops of lavender essential oil for an even more pleasant scent. When all the ingredients are properly blended, pour the mixture into a silicone ice cube mold. Wait for the bars to solidify as they cool, then take them out of the mold.
To enjoy the benefits of your bar of soap, all you have to do is rub it directly on the skin. If you wish, you can also use it during massages
Advice
- Choose products that have a texture and a fragrance you love. Using a shower gel and scrub that allows you to have smooth and fragrant skin is a great way to relax and pamper yourself.
- Close your eyes for a moment, letting the warm water flow gently over your face.
- Make sure the shower looks clean and comfortable. A welcoming and elegant atmosphere will make you feel like in a spa. Getting into a dirty shower isn't relaxing at all.
- There are shower heads with massaging action or with colored LED lights that match the different water jets, for an extremely relaxing experience.
- Prepare everything you need before you step into the shower so you have it close at hand. This way you won't be forced to interrupt your relaxing experience.
