The Panel

A bath is best for solitude and self-care, says Sarah Caden, who has five super soaks

Bathe all your troubles away

Baths matter now, with their ability to soothe nerves, but also their ability to earn you time alone. If you live with other people, there are, by now, few refuges from them, but a bath might be one such. And it’s better than hiding out in a shed or under the stairs.

A bath’s warm water relaxes tense muscles, thus promoting a psychological sense of relaxation. Also, increasing body temperature in the evening causes it to then drop, which is said to help promote sleep. Adding scents such as lavender can promote calmness, while elements such as magnesium can have a positive effect on jangled nerves. And in self-care terms, an evening bath trumps the TV-bingeing, the food-bingeing, the wine and the Zoom. Leave the phone outside. And maybe lock the door.

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