to think baths are not relaxing

[LioneIRichTea]

What am I doing wrong?

I should love a bath, I can be pretty lazy, I like pampering myself, I love the peace and quiet... but I just can’t get a bath to be relaxing!

Tonight for example. DP was gaming, I ran a bath, nice music, scented candles, bubbles... even made a cup of tea to have in the bath. It was looking like a treat.

I must admit for the first 15 minutes I felt like Marie Antoinette and I almost wanted someone to come in with a platter of cream cakes to accompany my tea, but then, it happened...

It got cold.

Well not cold, but luke warm, so I turned on the hot with my left foot. Was bliss again for another 10 minutes or so and then I had to keep topping up!

This is in between constantly slipping and deciding what to sacrifice to the cold air, knees or boobs. So I’m alternating between them, never really being comfortable because IS THIS A BATH FOR ANTS?! So I mostly look like I’m giving birth with THE BEST DOUBLE CHIN.

The worst bit though is when I’m trying to get as much of my body under the water as possible to warm up and most of the bubbles have finally popped, revealing my cold goose pimpled boobs, like two sad blancmanges just asking me why I bother! I got out and had a shower!

I’ve seen you all! You instagram perfect bath women. The long legs, the wooden thing over the bath with a glass of Chateauneuf du Pape and the latest book club read. How do you do it, HOW?! Do you have a chair in there? Velcro? How do you relax enough to read, how do you not have to top up the hot every other page?! How do you not get bubbles on your hands then all over your forever itchy face!

I want to enjoy baths please help me!

Also why can’t you stretch out properly in a bath, I’m not a giant, I’m 5ft 9! Did they make doorways taller but forget about baths?! Ugh!

I've got a bath pillow, a little cupboard next to my bath for my drink, book and hand towel.
I fill the bath just over half way, get in and keep topping up.
I'm 5ft 2, so I'm lucky enough to be able to stretch out.

I agree - I just can't get comfortable in the bath, I can't read a book because it always gets wet and it's either too hot or too cold. Give me a snuggly bed or couch any day over a bath!

@finnmcool Ahh that was the other thing ... I have a bony...bit at the bottom of my neck (not sure what it’s called) and it is not comfortable when jammed up against a bath tub 😆 I might need one of these!

Can someone invent a bath that keeps the water at temperature. I hate having to top up, luckily my feet reach the taps though!

I'm not that keen but have in the last few years realised why

Long baths
Going to hairdressers
Spa weekends

Are an oft cited luxury for women

It's because you get to get away from the house/ kids/ lock the door and have s break

Pretty sad eh. But I think that's what it's about.

I think you've got the wrong idea to stay in so long.
I LOVE a bath, I find it relaxes my muscles.
Run a HOT bath.
Get in for 5-10 mins. Long enough to wash.
Get out. Lie on bed, maybe have 40 winks.
So I never bother with candles, wine etc (bath too hot to stay in). HTH

@Takingabreakagain Yes who are these people who can read in the bath? I swear these photos are staged for insta and then they just bath like a normal person 🤣

I've decided I don't enjoy a bath until I replace it with a Soaking Tub. Deep, I can sit up and still have my shoulders covered, and I don't have to look at my flabby naked body stretch out in front of me.

Yeah I can't read/ drink etc in bath.

It's about getting away. IMO.

I was baffled about these activities being so important for women. It's about getting away. I'm sure.

I have a spa bath..... I bloody hate it, noisy splashy thing and even if you put a teeny tiny amount of bath bubbles in within 2 seconds the bath room looks like a Ibiza foam party. I like a shower, they tend to behave themselves!

I have a very nice large deep bath, holds the temperature well for up to an hour.
Rarely read - mostly listen to radio 4, occasionally a film on my laptop
Prefer oil to bubbles - dollop of castor oil, or scented bath oil if having a 'luxurious' bath
Lush ultrabland as a face mask.
Glass of red or a cup or tea.

Heaven

Heaven

@tobedtoMNandfart I know, who’d think a bath is to wash in 😊 I actually loved it to start with as I had been on a long walk but I feel like it’s a lot of hassle just for a wash, I want to soak and relax and not worry about cold boobs. I think I like the idea of baths and not the actual bath.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I've decided I don't enjoy a bath until I replace it with a Soaking Tub. Deep, I can sit up and still have my shoulders covered, and I don't have to look at my flabby naked body stretch out in front of me.

That's probably the only bath I'd be happy to use nowadays.

I haven't had a bath for years. I much prefer a shower then curling up in soft PJs with a book and a mug of tea.

I think you’re right @ShinyFootball which is why I picked a time when DP would not be bothering me haha

I totally agree- never see the appeal - I have seeing my boobs and stomach all blobbing about, so depressing. I haven’t had a bath in many years- showers only!
However I have just come back from hiring somewhere with a hot tub. Didn’t expect to be overly keen as I get far too hot in jacuzzis in spas and actually get very dizzy.
But absolute luxury! Like a hot bath (But not too hot) kept constantly at that temperature outside with an amazing view.
Plenty of room to stretch out and lots of bubbles. Plus I’m in a swimming costume so not wobbly bits out. Absolutely loved it

I really don't like baths. I completely agree with you OP.

I hate baths so much I had my bath removed and a lovely stand in shower put in. Easier for washing hair and much more relaxing than my bath ever was.

I just don't get how people lie in them for eternity eating, drinking and reading. I prefer to do all that on dry land

Also I think you are far too tall to be trying to stay in (and warm) for longer. I'm very short so can submerge all of me.

I find them a bit hit and miss but have the opposite problem to you in that I get too hot! Maybe your bath isn't hot enough to start with and mine doesn't need topping up after 10 mins?

I tried to read a magazine in the bath yesterday. Fingers stick to the page and bits of ink on my fingers.

Try to watch tv (on iPad) but nothing nearby to rest it on and I worry about dropping it in.

I drink water on there but that's it.

I do like a bath but realistically I can only be comfortable for about 30 mins, tops, and it probably costs more than it's worth/

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz that looks like heaven! Yes I am a bit bloated atm too and my little pot belly sticking out over the bubbles looked like something Richard Brandon would try and buy 🙁

20 minutes is about my limit. Long enough to have a cup of coffee and a couple of biscuits. Then it’s gets a bit boring.
I’m also tall so I can’t really stretch out, so either I’m cold on top or my legs are sticking out.

Love that @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I looked at them when we had our bathroom done but DH immediately vetoed it.

I got my bum gun though 😁

Totally agree.
My mind says: ooh bath!
Have to clean bath because cat has been rolling in it post my shower earlier. Run one, get it perfect. Get in, slightly too hot. Pick up book, have to scratch arm, get hand wet. Dry hand on hair or break shoulder to reach towel. Read 2 pages, get bored. Try and put book on floor. Lie in bath trying to relax. Cold knees, cold tits. Hot knees, cold entire top half. Close eyes and try to relax. Water goes tepid. Try to think relaxing thoughts, brain goes busy.
Get up, have weird shower while standing in draining trough of water. Feel sad bath was shit and now have to clean it due to slimy bath shit on it.
In my next rich life, I'm having SimonJT's bath. He posted it on a thread recently and it was a thing of warm titted beauty.

I used to really love a bath. But then I got a bout of inflammatory arthritis in my knees and just could not physically manage to sit down in the bath and had to make do with showers. Then my knees got better, but even though I can now physically manage one I'm just not bothered any more.

If you've got goose bumps then obviously your bathroom isn't warm enough.

I'm short, so I can lie down in some baths but that's not ideal. You want one where your feet reach the end while you're sat up enough to have your head out. More like a chaise longue position than a bed iyswim.

Bath needs to be boiling hot, I sweat when I get out the bath after an hour! Book just gets wet, don't care! And a very cold drink to cool me down a little so I can persevere with my hot bath.
I have a slipper bath, I can fit all in it but do like to hang my leg out as it is so hot.