Whenever any of my girlfriends express having an unusual stressful day or week, I am quick to say, “Girl, take a bubble bath!”   Usually, this comment is met with a little surprise and an incredulous giggle but after I give them my recipe they usually succumb and try it.

Yes, yes, yes, there is a recipe for taking an effective relaxing bubble bath.   The first thing you have to do is “decide” to take a bubble bath.   This decision turns your focus from the stressful external event to the internal YOU.

First, turn the phone off and get everybody out of the house (if you don’t live alone).

Now go and pour yourself a glass of wine to enjoy in the bath….. red or white, it doesn’t matter just don’t think about it too much.   (Once I couldn’t decide and almost ruined the moment by getting stressed again but I solved it by having 2 glasses of wine —–1 red and 1 white!)   Place it (or them) in the freezer for a quick chill.

Next, you need to de-clutter the bathroom.   This will start to engage your senses and will be very pleasing to your eyes.  If it’s daytime and you have a window, open the curtains to bring in the sunshine or watch the rain falling.   If it’s nighttime, bring in some candles and turn off the overhead lights.   Put on your favorite music (To engage my sense of hearing, I put on music … maybe a little jazz or Native American flute……….or just listen to the solitude of my empty home.)  Next, choose a soothing-scented bubble bath liquid and start running the bath water, touching the water to acquire the right temperature.

Go and get your glass (or glasses) of wine.

While listening to the water filling the tub, disrobe and slowly stretch.   Step into the tub and don’t rush it.  Slowly sit down and stretch out ……savoring the warmth of the water on your skin until you are submersed to your chin (if possible).   Soak for at least 5 minutes before you sit up and start sipping your wine.    Alternate between soaking and sipping until the wine is gone, the bubbles have dissolved and the water is cold.

When you are done, step out, dry off, and collapse on your bed for a relaxing nap or a good night’s sleep.   Whatever you do, don’t worry about cleaning the bathtub until later because that thought will ruin the mood.   You have my permission to leave the tub dirty for a few hours!

Try it and enjoy!

QUESTIONS:

Do you like bubble baths?

If you do, are they relaxing to you?   How often do you take them?   Do you have a ritual for it?

If you don’t like bubble baths, why not?