If the purpose of your bath is to relax, then bright, overhead lights and the sounds of arguing neighbors shan't help you unwind. Dim the lights or light a few candles in the bathroom. Turn on calming music, like a classical station or some ambient noise, such as ocean waves or bird calls. If your bath has a curtain, draw it all the way or part-way to trap steam and heat. Just make sure the curtain is not in the bathtub with you. If you have a heater in the bathroom, turn it on to make sure the temperature outside the bath water isn't jarringly cold. Running the bath with the bathroom door closed can also help create a warm environment. Ensure the heater doesn't get wet. Don't use electronics in the tub. This can be dangerous (and potentially deadly). And while your phone or e-reader probably won't electrocute you if you drop it in the tub, it will be ruined. Be careful if you use candles. They could fall over during your bath and burn something. Don't put unsecured candles near the tub. Bring a magazine or book to read. Paperbacks are easier in the bath than heavy, hardback books. Personalize your bathing experience by adding fun bubbles or bath bombs; essential oils for aromatherapy and to keep skin moisturized; or things like Epsom salts, honey, or oatmeal to soothe or heal skin and muscles. Add oils or other extras when the tub is halfway full to ensure they disperse evenly throughout the water. Use at least an entire cup of oil per bath to reap the moisturizing benefits. Now is a great time to really pamper yourself. Exfoliate your body with a sugar scrub. Apply a mud or face mask and lay slices of cucumber over your eyes to soothe and de-puff. Try an oil hair treatment and deep condition your hair. Try a hydrating mask if your skin is dry or you're worried about it drying out in the bath. Use a clay mask for super smooth skin. These are great if you have large pores or oily skin Tea tree oil can help treat dandruff and moisturize dry hair. Try just a little Moroccan oil on your hair for silky, not oily, tresses. Bring a small ball into the bath and place it between your body and the tub. Move your body around on top of the ball to massage your back muscles. You can control the pressure by allowing your body to float up if it's too intense. Try a relaxing face massage, too. Massage your temples with the tips of your fingers, using a circular motion. This can help relieve tension and reduce headaches. If you have a cold, try massaging the bridge of your nose to open up your sinuses. Pinch the bridge of your nose and slide your fingers down toward your nostrils. You want your bliss to continue once you've stepped out of the bath, and nothing says luxury like a big, fluffy robe or a soft, plush towel. Keep your robe or towel in the bathroom with you so you can immediately swaddle yourself.

Summary: Create a soothing environment. Add bubbles, salts, or essential oils. Use a facial mask or hair treatment. Give yourself a massage. Invest in a fluffy robe or towel, and have it ready post-bath.

Your impulse might be to say "yes" to everything. This can result in you becoming exhausted, overbooked, and stressed out. Instead of defaulting to "yes," be prepared to say "no." You can do this by creating a structure for how you spend your time. Maybe you are cranky if you go out more than two evenings in one week. If this is the case, create a rule for yourself that two nights is your limit. If someone asks you to do something after your limit is reached, you'll feel justified saying no. You can also apply this to other situations. For example, agree to only participating in one fundraiser a semester at your child's school. Set a limit of meeting someone for lunch only one day during the workweek. Try to balance your schedule. On days when you have a lot of work responsibilities, schedule some time for self-care when you come home. Account for all of your activities. For example, if you plan to grocery shop on Saturday morning, mark it on your calendar. That way, if someone asks you to fill in as soccer coach on Saturday morning you can legitimately say that you already have something on your calendar. You can even schedule things like alone time for yourself. This method can help you make sure that you get everything done that you need (or want) to do. Of course, if something important comes up, you can always be flexible and make an exception. For example, if you need to visit the dentist, you might have to cancel your relaxing Saturday morning. You can't do everything, so it is important to be able to give a respectful "no." Write down your priorities each day, and commit to getting them done. If someone asks you to do something not in line with those goals, you can say no. For example, maybe your list says, "finish presentation for Monday, write objectives for next week's department meeting, leave on time for Aunt Ruth's birthday dinner." If a coworker asks you to stay late to help them with their own project, it is okay to say, "I'm sorry, I have a family commitment this evening." Take a moment to think before you respond to an invitation. You don't have to accept every offer that you receive. If you try to stick to things that you actually want to do, you will likely feel happier and more relaxed. If an acquaintance asks you to join their spin class and you're more of a yoga person, don't feel bad about declining. You can ask them if they'd like to join you in your class! You don't have to say yes every time someone asks you on a date. Even if you're in a relationship, you still need some alone time. You can say, "Thanks for asking, but I really just feel like staying home alone." If your partner pressures you, you may want to reassess your relationship. Of course, you will sometimes have to do things that you don't feel like doing. But don't feel like you have to attend every work happy hour just to be polite. Give yourself some time before you answer. It can sometimes take a few hours or even a day to think about an invitation. Take some time so you can determine if it fits your schedule and priorities. It's normal to feel guilty for turning someone down. To keep yourself from feeling this way, try to remind yourself of the positive aspects of saying no. For example, maybe you'll feel much more rested if you turn down an invite to a party. Or maybe you can focus on a major project at work if you turn down a smaller, less important opportunity.
Summary: Give yourself rules about how much you can do. Schedule your time carefully. Stick to your priorities. Ask yourself if you want to accept. Focus on the benefits of saying no.