Is Our Idea of the Candlelit Relaxing Bath a Myth?

Apparently we are not taking enough time to relax. Even though the English are supposedly keen on soaking in the bath to unwind, a new survey suggests that the ‘relaxing bath’ is actually a myth.

The national survey, conducted by Faith in Nature, showed only 4% of us find time to luxuriate in a relaxing bath. Indeed, the term ‘I’m off to soak in the bath’ heard so often is most likely to be a figment of the person’s imagination. They are more likely to go home to browse Facebook or watch an episode of Poldark on catch up.

This is backed up by Peter Kinderman, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool and lead educator of the course on the FutureLearn social learning platform: 'Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture’. He said: “People aren’t maximising opportunities which make them happy. We could be making better choices about how we spend our time.”

The poll of 2,000 people revealed that most Britons prefer a functional shower instead of a bath. According to the survey, 79% of Brits say they focus on speed and attention to cleanliness rather taking their time with a long soak. Of the rest, only 4% of Brits prefer to take a long and luxurious bath with candles or scents, 4% enjoy listening to music or singing their way through washing and 4% of Brits find themselves daydreaming instead of washing. The majority of people’s bathing habits do not change when it comes to weekend bathing as nearly 61% of Brits keep the same shower routine seven days a week.

Professor Peter Kinderman said: “There are plenty of opportunities to make us feel good. The possibilities for enhancing our lives are endless and the choices are there for the taking. The paradox is that people aren’t choosing things to make their lives better; they’re making mundane and easy choices, which essentially aren’t making people happy.

“I always encourage people to make conscious choices about how to spend their time. Whether you have a spare 10 minutes or 2 hours, think about how you would like to make the most of this time. Whether the choice it to go for a run, to call a relative, bake a cake, or relax in a warm bath, it’s choosing things that enhance our lives that make us feel calmer, more relaxed, and happier.”

Joy Parkinson, managing director of Faith in Nature, said: “We were really surprised at the results of the national survey and it certainly indicates that Britons have forgotten how to relax. Modern day life is busy and fast paced, and we agree with Professor Kinderman about the types of choices people are making. Most people probably know that soaking in a warm bath provides a moment of calm for the mind and body, but they are choosing other ways to spend their time. Perhaps this is a lesson for all of us that we should all give ourselves more time to do things that genuinely make us feel more relaxed.”

Here are some tips for having a relaxing bath:

• Ban all digital devices from the bathroom
• Turn on some soothing music - no loud beats
• Dim the electric lights and light some candles
• Tell your family that you need 30 minutes of alone time
• Add some relaxing bath foam. Lavender is recommended for its soothing and calming qualities

For more information about Faith in Nature, visit: http://www.faithinnature.co.uk