Nourishing Daily Rituals
Do you have any daily rituals you look forward to? I have a rhythm of several throughout the day that begin with my morning cup of hot water with lemon and a bit of fresh ginger, if I have it on hand. But my favorite is saved for the end of the day, taking a hot bath before bed. Over the years I’ve become a self proclaimed expert on this night time retreat and thought I’d share some of the ways I make it a more luxurious and meaningful experience with you.
Before we jump into all the pretty things, I thought it would be nice to talk about what makes an experience a ritual as opposed to a routine. The difference is the care and intention behind the action. While routines are actions that need to be done—such as making your bed or taking a bath — rituals are viewed as more meaningful practices that are done with a sense of purpose and enjoyment.
Rituals make the ordinary, extraordinary.
Atmosphere
To turn an every day bath into a soothing ritual, I think it’s important to be attentive to the atmosphere. In this case, I’ve found that less is more. While we may be tempted to do all the things - play music, read a book, or listen to a podcast, if you’re looking for complete relaxation, I recommend stillness. Dim the lights or turn them off entirely (which I’m known to do) and sit under the moonlight outside your window. Use this quiet time of solitude for reflection, prayer, or simply being grateful and fully present. Lighting a candle can be a wonderful way to begin and taper candles work well because they can be burned for a few minutes or as long as needed. Leave your phone in another room. It’s the worst kind of distraction and will rob you from having the peaceful moment that you’re seeking.
Bath + Shower Favorites
These are my top picks for making your bath or shower ritual a more beautiful experience. From drugstore to luxury, these are the products I continue to use the most year after year. I like to rotate what I’m using with the seasons since our skin requires different types of nourishment in the summer than it does in the winter, so you will find a few different formula types based on this.
Soaps + Scents
For days when my muscles are feeling sore, I’ll add a few scoops of mineral salts while I run the bath water. After that I’ll pour a drizzle of bubbles into the water stream. Really good soap is a must. If I don’t use a scented body wash (Jo Malone makes the most fragrant) a spritz of a light, clean smelling perfume can be nice afterwards.
Wash + Scrub
A must-have for the bath is a large natural sea sponge. It is the most soothing way to pour warm water on your back and body and feels like a spa experience. A few times a week I will step into the shower before my bath and use a dry brush over my body. If you don’t have sensitive skin conditions, dry brushing has many benefits and will leave your skin so soft and smooth. Here’s a helpful article.
Exfoliate + Hydrate
I don’t add oils to my bath water because of the ring they leave behind on the tub, but I do enjoy applying them afterwards. And I always keep several exfoliating scrubs and hydrating masks on hand for extra pampering.
Reflections + Prompts
I thought it might be helpful to share some of the ways I have used this time to be more present:
Reflect on the day and what tomorrow might bring. Write it down afterwards so you can sleep well.
Express gratitude for the moment, my surroundings, my loved ones - there are so many things to be thankful for.
Take a health assessment. How am I feeling? Vibrant, tired, a cold coming on - take note.
Let go of past hurts, mistakes, or wrong doings. None of us are perfect. Tomorrow is a new day.
Do several breathing exercises - breath in through the nose for seven, hold for four, out the mouth for seven.
Pray for family and loved ones or things that have been weighing on my heart.
Dream a little dream. Is there something calling me to create, to see, or do? Is there someone to help?
Gaze at the moon and the stars. I’ve learned the names of many that are twinkling above our house.
Community Conversation
I’d really love to hear about a ritual you look forward to and how it makes your day more meaningful. And if you have a favorite bath product I haven’t listed - please share. I love trying new ones!
