“Baths have been used by
many great minds as
a place to recharge and
tackle their work”
Bathtime brainwaves
The relaxing, solitary and
non-judgmental act of bathing
allows our minds to wander
freely. US marine biologist
Wallace J Nichols has dedicated
his life to understanding the
effects of water on our brains
and believes we all have a “blue
mind” that is triggered when
we are in or near water. Nichols
describes this as a “mildly
meditative state characterised
by calm, peacefulness, unity and
a sense of general happiness
and satisfaction with life at the
moment.” He believes this calm
state facilitates clarity and
insight and allows us to tap into
our most creative selves. Baths
have been used by many of the
greatest minds as a place to rest,
recharge and tackle their work:Agatha Christie The crime
novelist told her architect she
wanted a big bath, with a ledge,
so she could dream up new plots
while eating apples and drinking tea.Winston Churchill The former
prime minister would take two
daily hot baths to de-stress from
the pressures of leading the
country during the Second World
War. He often dictated from his
bath to his secretary who would
sit outside the bathroom with a
portable typewriter on her lap.Freddie Mercury The lead singer
of Queen wrote ‘Crazy Little
Thing Called Love’ while taking
a bath in a hotel room in Munich.Arianna Huffington The billionaire
businesswoman takes a nightly
bath before bed with Epsom salts
and candles. “It’s my ritual to
wash away the day,” she says.