We’ve all spent a good deal of time at home lately. It’s given us time to reflect on what we own and the ways in which we use our homes. We’ve expanded the functionality of different rooms – to accommodate our work and our kids’ virtual learning.

This shift has been out of necessity, and our ingenuity has saved the day. What if we actively decided that other areas could offer up even more potential? Would that be possible…without more stuff?

There are certain rooms that we engage with only in a transactional manner. These rooms support our daily lives and basic needs. The laundry room has one specific purpose. The mudroom another.

You pass through them. You do not linger. You’re there to do a job, then move forwards with your day. Deciding to stretch these spaces beyond their purpose into a luxurious or relaxing experience takes both slowing down and a mindset shift.

Take the primary bathroom. When you moved into your home, you decorated it, added the necessary personal care products, and probably haven’t revisited the design of it since. Life gets busier, your routines have become more fixed, and the bathroom has become a repository of too many, out-of-date items.

Perhaps the countertop has a myriad of items piled upon it, and the drawers hold products that you’ve tried but aren’t your daily favorites. Your towels probably have seen better days. It’s possible that you’ve forgotten that you even have a bathtub. It’s become a room through which you move as quickly and efficiently as possible.

With the current pandemic climate, we’re all in need of extra self-care. Our minds are frazzled, our energy is low, and we’re all treading water waiting for the tide to change. So, let’s intentionally shift the bathroom into a restorative sanctuary. Let’s make it a place you want to linger, a place to show yourself an extra bit of love and gratitude each and every day. 

Less Clutter = More Calm

The size of your primary bathroom is irrelevant. Reframing your routine is about adding time for yourself and bit more compassion.

Start by setting aside 30 minutes to an hour to clear out the clutter.

• Grab a notepad and pencil.

• Take everything off your bathroom counter.

• Replace onto the countertop only the things you use every single day.

This is your prime real estate, and it deserves only the most essential items.

• Write down anything that needs immediate replacement. 

Repeat this process within your bathroom drawers or shelves.

• Wipe out the drawers. Wipe down the shelves.

• If you’re deciding to add drawer organizers, measure the length, width, and height of the drawers.

• Write the measurements on the notepad and draw a quick picture.

Toss any items are open and out of date.

If you haven’t used it in the last month, toss it in the garbage. You’re not going to use it. If it’s an occasional use item, place it in an out-of-the-way corner. Any unopened items – that are still useable – can be donated to a local shelter or community organization.

Remind yourself that less is more. You don’t need a multi-step beauty routine unless you commit the time to executing it on a regular basis.

Notice if you overbuy in any particular category. Do you have an unwieldy number of nail polishes or tubes of lotion? Becoming aware of the types of items you buy too much of is an important step in maintaining the decluttered space. Aim to be ruthless this first pass of your bathroom toiletries; it’s better to reduce clutter in one fell sweep. 

Lastly, take a hard look at your towels, washcloths, and shower curtain/liner. When’s the last time you treated yourself to a new layer of softness? Consider investing in a new set of linens. This is a minor upgrade that brings so much reward. There’s no comparison to wrapping yourself in a fresh towel. It’s a hug for your soul.

Make the Time 

The next step may be bit a more challenging than the first. Setting aside time for ourselves often feels like an indulgence. When your home is a busy hive of people moving around, working, learning, and needing things, it may seem like you don’t have additional time in the bathroom. But what if you were wrong? What if what you needed was equally, if not more, important?

You may be shortchanging yourself without even recognizing it.

Time is not something we are given; it is something we need to take. You are in charge of your schedule. You decide how much time you need for any given activity throughout the week.

How could taking an additional 10 minutes to a half hour alone to replenish yourself help you show up as your best self?

Create a retreat within your own home by slowing down. Draw a bath and soak in Epsom salts. Take time to care for your nails or skin. Add a little makeup to make yourself feel beautiful. Style your hair a little differently. Don’t underestimate the power of building yourself up through time alone. Taking time isn’t about outward appearance, it’s about doing something extra to improve your relationship with yourself.

Ask a Powerful Question

Alone time in the bathroom is the perfect moment to think deeply. It’s often quiet, and the hum or buzz of the fan can be used to block out any madness that the outside world may offer. It’s the ideal time to ask yourself a single, open-ended, powerful question and see where your mind goes. By giving yourself a purposeful question, your brain will work to find a profound answer.

This is a waking meditation. It the act of slowing down and realigning you with yourself. It’s a way of clearing out the mental clutter – all the “should’s” and “to do’s” and staying present in the now.

Spending a few moments in an abundant mindset will refill your heart so that you’ll either rest better or start the day with a positive outlook. Whether your shaving, showering, or simply getting dressed, asking a powerful question will have you feeling accomplished in just a few minutes.

Creating a restorative routine in your bathroom is worth it. Your home is your respite from the larger world. It’s your own place to retreat – to be 100% yourself in the most comfortable way. It’s an inexpensive way to honor yourself and all that you’re capable of doing.

By clearing out the excess, refreshing what you own, and being cognizant about your purchasing habits, you’ll make the environment more spacious. By taking a little more time for yourself and asking a powerful question, you’ll repurpose your bathroom from a transactional space to one of luxury. It’s a small shift with a lasting impact.

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few open-ended thought starters.