For the first time in my life, I took a shower without my bathroom light bulb on, which is a blue luminescent hue. Instead, I lit three candles and turned on my minimal fairy lights which were draped around my hand towel rack. I found this to be an extremely life-changing habit. This was something I came across on social media, and while I normally ignore more than half the tips that people suggest in their videos, this one seemed to capture my attention; a simple nightly ritual that was softly beckoning me to give it a chance.
I am pleased to admit that I am never going back. I never would have imagined how such a small change in routine would make such a big difference.
The experience was so rich and soothing that I never wanted to leave my shower or bathroom. Maybe I had a particularly long day, or maybe it was that placebo affect; whatever it was, it worked for me.
I could feel the tension in my body releasing itself, the anxieties of my mind slowly flowing into the drain along with the rest of the water, and I could feel my cortisol levels lowering. I was unable to stop yawning. It is uncommon for me to yawn in the shower, but that first time with the soft glow of the flames dancing in the mist of the hot water, made me want to drift off into a deep sleep.
Something that was a simple routine for me has been turned into a meaningful ritual that I will always be grateful for stumbling across.
The candlelight shower will have different effects on everyone, and I am aware that some people may still be afraid of the dark or feel uneasy without the large bulb on while showering, but it is something that I recommend trying at least once before ruling it out altogether.
At first, I, too, was slightly uncomfortable, but as I stayed through those feelings of unease and stuck to my choices, I slowly began to absorb the good feeling of a shower that relieves me of stress rather than implementing it.
Because sometimes when I am showering my mind is racing with unhelpful thoughts of previous moments throughout the day, or the week which increase my stress levels, which in turn sometimes makes showering feel like a chore for me, rather than something to look forward to. With candlelit showers, I feel that my overall mental health has and will continue to improve as well as help my stress melt away.
At the end of the day, it’s all about what makes you happy, and the only way you will find out is if you branch out of your comfort zone and try different things, a candlelit shower being one of them perhaps.
