Nudged: Take a long hot bath

Well, the full Nudge reads “Take a long hot bath with 1 of those scented bombs I’ve been ‘saving.'”

If you’ve been nudging with me for a while, you know a variation of this one has appeared in every round. Why? Because it’s still hard for me! I’m a born ‘n’ raised Californian, where water-saving practices are drilled into our DNA. Run the water while brushing my teeth? Never! Reuse rinse water on the lawn? Whenever possible. Fill a whole tub with hot water for a mind/body/soul-soothing soak? Only if prescribed by a doctor and it’s Christmas.

But seriously, I know this practice is good for me, so here’s my nudge to indulge.

What Happened: It was a blissfully quiet early morning. The dogs were at doggie daycare, the construction crew working on the house next door hadn’t yet begun drilling, scraping, and hammering. Did I have other things to do? Sure. But I felt the timing and conditions were right to take advantage of this Nudge.

I found three scented bath bombs in the far corner of the bathroom cabinet and, feeling extravagant, I dropped two into the tub as it filled with steaming water. I eased myself in, closed my eyes, took some deep breaths, and…ahhhhhhh.

I mean…ahhhhhhhhh.

A few minutes in, I picked up the January 2023 issue of National Geographic. I love this magazine for its photos, writing, and mission, but I rarely take time to focus and read more than a few paragraphs at a time (usually over a hurried meal break–sheesh!). This day was different. I learned about the kingdom of Mustang, a country “deep in the barren highlands of northern Nepal” in “The King of Mustang Will See You Now” by Mark Synnott, with photos by Cory Richards. (I’d share, but it’s a subscriber exclusive.)

What a fantastic departure from my city life! I learned about a history, culture, and changing landscape that is completely foreign to me. While I’m not inspired to visit (it’s a bit too remote and rugged for my taste), I loved learning that this extraordinary place exists in our world.

The Ah-Hahs: I still often feel that my days are filled with doing doing doing. I should know better, I should do better. And this is one of the many reasons why I do 52Nudges.

P.S. We’ve got a Facebook page! Check it out here. I’ll post the weekly Nudges there for a while, to see if it gets any followers. As always, the best way to keep up with 52Nudges is to subscribe.