A Bath Makes You Happier Than Going For A Run, So Make Some Bubbles!

Get out the bath bombs!


Article heading image for A Bath Makes You Happier Than Going For A Run, So Make Some Bubbles!

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We’ve long known that going for a run, or getting any form of exercise, helps get you out of a bad mood and enter the happy zone!

 

But there’s another thing that can make you even happier that we know you would ALL love to do every night:

 

Relaxing in your bath!

 

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It all has something to do with a person’s core body temperature. 

 

A study in New Scientist revealed that having regular baths in the afternoon leads to a persistent lift in your mood amongst those who have depression. 

 

They went further to state that this had an even greater affect than that of going to the gym or for a run, boosting your moods more!

 

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The study from the University of Freiburg in Germany asked 45 participants who suffered from depression to have two baths a week, or partake in two sessions of moderate exercise a week.

 

The bathers had to have a 40°C bath for 30 minutes, then wrap themselves in blankets and hot water bottles for a further 20.

 

For those exercising, they had to do 40-45 minutes of moderate aerobic workout, like running, dancing or swimming.

 

The study ran over 8 weeks and after its completion they found that those who took baths averaged a 6-point positive increase in their moods, on a depression scale, while those who exercised only had a 3-point increase. 

 

Why did a bath rate higher in boosting moods than exercise?

 

They outlined that by raising the core temps of participants at night, their circadian rhythms (your inner alarm clock) was better synchronised and strengthened. 

 

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It helps to improve our sleep quality and rid our bodies of excess heat.

 

Other studies have found that depression often messes with our ability to regulate our body temperature, so a hot bath, regularly, haps to correct this while also raising levels of serotonin! 

 

"Hyperthermic baths seems to be a fast-acting, safe and easy accessible method leading to clinically relevant improvement in depressive disorder after two weeks.

 

"It is also suitable for persons who have problems performing exercise training."

 

Looks like we will be having a nice long bath tonight!

 

You should definitely still work on exercising, too, though - it’s a proven mood-upper and a must in helping you cope. 

 

 

 

If you are concerned about your own emotional wellbeing, are experiencing a personal crisis or are concerned about someone else, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at www.lifeline.org.au

 

 

 

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Hayley Mitchelhill-Miller

29 October 2018

Article by:

Hayley Mitchelhill-Miller




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