why bathing is a life hack
when i feel imperfect, i find myself chin-deep in a tub of water and apple cider vinegar. i learned this life hack in 2014 from an elder while working at a health food store. it is part vanity, part wellbeing.
since Our emotions affect our bodies, higher stress levels can elevate the stress hormone cortisol (i cower at the very mention of her name) causing disruptions in your skin health, digestion, and nervous system. the hack is that Drawing a hot bath can calm the nervous system by encouraging the body to release serotonin, contributing to feelings of contentment and wellbeing. see how we just shut all of that anxiety and negative self-talk down?
a deep soak immediately raises the body temperature, activating an immune response in your body to: produce more white blood cells, helping to fight off infection and improve blood flow, which helps get blood cells to damaged tissue. i love how flushed my face gets in the bath. i imagine my collagen being stimulated and just feel, “it’s working.”
I add a cup full of Apple Cider Vinegar with the “Mother” in it for the added benefit of balancing the skin’s ph, preventing body odor and skin issues like acne and eczema flareups. you’ll be surprised at how well your skin behaves and how much your mood is improved from a regular bathing ritual as well as how much dirt, oil, and dead skin is left in the tub after draining (no matter how many showers or half bathrooms you have.) bathing is a slow living respite, an accessible luxury, so why don’t we encourage it more?
pro tip: add essentials oils like tea tree or eucalyptus to naturally scent your water and enhance its germ-fighting potency. keep a glass of water next to the bath to maintain hydration as you naturally flush toxins.
