From turning down the temperature to meditating: five ways to elevate your morning shower
From tweaking the water temperature to adjusting the pressure, your morning shower can help your day get off to a great start – making you feel fresher and more awake both mentally and physically. In fact, it can become an integral daily ritual that you nod off at night looking forward to. What's more, unlike finding the time to squeeze in some pilates or a green smoothie, this is already a regular part of your schedule – and speedy at that, with the average shower in the UK lasting just eight minutes. Here are five easy tweaks to help level up your shower.
The fact that a chilly shower helps wake you up will come as no surprise, but dialling down the temperature will do more than just improve alertness. According to a study by the University of South Australia, cold water immersion could help reduce stress levels for up to 12 hours afterwards. To harness these cool benefits to mental wellbeing in a way that's safe for you, the Mira Activate with ColdBoost allows you to choose between four different levels of intensity, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced immersion.
Bathroom products do more than just allowing enticing scents to wash over you and make you feel clean – they can actively improve your brain power too. Research shows that the aroma of peppermint helps boost auditory and visual reaction times, while studies also show that the power of jasmine oil stimulates brain activity. So treat yourself to some new toiletries and you won't only smell divine after your morning shower, you'll start your day feeling sharper and more focused.
Few things feel better than a good stretch, but most of us see this as a night-time activity to finish off the day with. But there's nothing stopping you from starting your morning off with some light stretches – and if you do it while showering, you'll kill two birds with one stone. Try gentle neck rolls, interlaced palms extended in front of you and – if safe – forward folds. After all, studies link flexibility with living longer. And don't forget the importance of showerhead placement so that you're not hunching. Mira's selection includes easily adjustable spray options or the deluge showerhead for a rainfall experience – the gentle, consistent flow of water from a rainfall shower can help alleviate muscle tension and ease soreness.
There's no doubt that a higher pressure feels satisfying and will make sure your senses are well and truly stirred. But the sensation of water hitting your skin needn't mean a huge bill. Mira Airboost technology on the Mira Sport electric shower range increases flow by up to 30%, giving the feeling of more water without actually using any extra. So go ahead and let the water wash over you.
Introduce some dedicated meditation to your morning shower and, according to research, you'll be feeling less stressed. One study found that those who practised in the morning were more likely to stick with the habit, while there's evidence that five to 12 minutes is all you need for anxiety to subside. Do this to the soundtrack of Mira's waterfall-style showerheads, or use a Bluetooth waterproof speaker to play your favourite podcast or album and you'll feel your worries slowly wash away …
Head to Mira Showers to discover the full range of showers available and how to get one installed by Mira-approved experts for complete peace of mind
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