What is Bathing For?

Thought for the Fortnight

Running my bath

I am exceedingly clean. I take a shower every morning and a bath every night. I wash in all the right places. My mother would be proud of me.

But all this bathing has very little to do with getting clean.

There are so many other reasons to pursue these activities.

The morning shower

I used to wake up bright and shiny and ready for the day. Indeed, I would wake up so fully alert that I knew there was nothing for it but to get up and do something – usually I decided to work. Even at 5 a.m.

I would go to my study, pull out whatever I was working on the day before and carry on – usually writing something. By the time my husband woke at the more normal hour of 7 a.m. or so, I could tell him I had done two billable hours, as I was self-employed.

I loved this time – it was so peaceful. In the summer months, it was already bright outside. No one phoned. No one needed me.

Alas, no more shiny mornings. I wake up feeling very sluggish and sometimes fall back to sleep or fall into that hazy land that is neither awake nor asleep. It sounds good, but I don’t much like it.

And when I finally crawl out of bed at 8.30 or 9.00 a.m., I need something to wake me up. For most people, this is strong coffee.

For me, it is a hot shower.

There is nothing like the pounding of water all over your body to wake up your nerves and help you feel alert. I am no longer sluggish. My mind has switched into gear. I am ready for the day.

Getting clean is just a happy by-product.

The evening bath

So I go through my day, whether writing, visiting friends, cooking or any number of other things we old people do with our lives. All good.

I am never bored. There are more things to do with my time than time to do them. I spend a fair amount of time writing or editing what I wrote the day before. Sometimes, I am out visiting or doing errands. Or, on the weekends, welcoming one of my grandchildren. I do various forms of exercise, including my weekly yoga class.

Not to mention swimming once a week, which means even more water.

But at the end of the day, whatever the business accomplished (or not), I am very tired. I need to get some energy. Sometimes, my whole body aches with general weariness. A bath does the job.

Moreover, in the summer, I need to cool off. In the winter, I need to get warm. More reasons for a bath.

So, I run my bath and have a soak. It is delicious feeling the hot water – and I like it very hot, damn the expense) – seep into my pores. It is relaxing and energising at the same time. I find myself far away.

It is a very special time. Quiet time. Me time. My husband knows he shouldn’t disturb me unless it is an emergency.

And getting clean, again, is just a happy by-product.

The best reason

But perhaps the best reason for all this bathing is what it does to my mind.

For reasons that perhaps scientists understand but I certainly don’t, being in water makes me think. Not about day-to-day problems (usually) but more creatively. Perhaps I let go in some way and thoughts float into my head.

Whether at the swimming pool, in the shower or in the bath, I find a lot of my best ideas for articles come to me there. Sometimes, it is a new topic; sometimes, it is a way of extending an existing topic. It is not all the time. But enough.

Immediately after, I tend to be in search of some paper to write down my ideas before I forget them. I used to keep a little notebook with my towel when I went to the swimming pool, but it was a hopeless exercise. It ended up being too soggy and I couldn't read my writing when I got home.

The small things in life

With everyone busy travelling to far and exciting places, I think we miss giving due stress to the small things in life. They can be incredibly rewarding.

You can have your cruise or your once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world.

Just give me a shower in the morning and a bath in the evening and I am a happy woman!

An earlier version of this article was published by sixtyandme.com

Is anyone out there who bathes as often as I do? Is it just to get clean? If not, what does it do for you? Do tell. You know I love to hear from you.