TikTok has been the birthplace of some strange wellness trends over the years, and the latest healthy shower craze is no exception. Open the social media app and you may find users sharing weird items they bring into the shower, including oranges and even denim. (Supposedly, wearing too-tight jeans in the shower and letting them air dry helps them loosen up.) Those ideas might seem out there, but expanding your repertoire of shower items beyond a loofah and shampoo could carry some very real wellness perks.
“In today’s fast-paced world, people are seeking convenient ways to prioritize self-care,” says Molli Lou Hollows, a certified hypnotherapist and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner in Walpole, Vermont. “Wellness-boosting showers offer an escape within the comfort of home, as well as within the comfort of routine, without sacrificing much time or energy.”
Dedicating a few minutes of shower time to wellness and self-care rituals may boost mental clarity, reduce stress, and improve self-connection. “It’s a simple yet powerful practice that nurtures both mental and physical health,” Hollows says. And because showering is already something you do regularly, adding self-care to that routine is an easy way to add a new healthy habit to your day.
So what are some of the things that may bring more wellness to your shower? Read on for six unusual items that have some scientific support for their ability to elevate a mundane shower to self-care status.
1. An Orange
Feel free to jump on this TikTok trend that’s currently racked up 3.5 million views. Bringing an orange into the shower is a great way to sneak in some vitamin C — one medium orange has 83 milligrams of the immune-boosting antioxidant, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), or nearly 100 percent of your daily value, to be exact.
According to the New York Post, fans of the trend say eating an orange while you’re already washing also makes cleanup easier: Just rinse your hands, and you’re good to go.
Plus, the steam from the warm water will intensify the citrusy scent, which may offer aromatherapy benefits. Research published in Antioxidants (Basel) in November 2022 found that citrus essential oils including both sweet and bitter orange have shown antidepressant, pain-relieving, and sedative effects and can positively influence emotional behavior. A separate randomized clinical trial found that the scent of sweet orange lowered pain and anxiety in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic kidney disease.
2. A Houseplant
Add some greenery to your shower with a houseplant. “Many houseplants thrive in humid environments, and it’s well-known that plants can improve our mental well-being,” says Michelle Justice, a Los Angeles–based yoga instructor and the founder of Nature Sound Retreat, an online sound meditation resource.
Plants can quickly boost your mood. In fact, a systematic review published in Sustainability in 2019 concluded that spending about 20 minutes or even less in their presence is enough to feel better. A past study found that people who spent as few as 5 to 10 minutes in a room with houseplants felt happier than those in a room without plants.
“Choose a humidity-loving plant like a fern or orchid and position it where it won’t get directly hit by water but can absorb the steamy ambiance,” Justice suggests.
3. A Waterproof Speaker
Music has powerful effects on mental well-being. Bring a waterproof speaker into the shower to play a curated shower playlist, Hollows suggests.
Studies show that music helps calm stress and lift mood. After analyzing 47 studies, the authors of a review published in 2020 in Health and Psychology Review concluded that music therapy has a medium-to-strong effect on lowering stress in mental health of patients in healthcare settings. Another study found similar benefits when people in rehab after a stroke listened to music for an hour.
“Bringing a waterproof speaker into the shower allows you to curate your wellness experience,” Justice notes. Create a playlist filled with sounds or music that evoke the mood you’re going for. Looking to unwind? Soothing nature sounds and slow-paced tunes can help. Need to perk up for the busy day ahead? Choose quick beats and songs that make you dance.
4. A Meditation Stool
Bring a stool into the shower when you need a moment to meditate. “Showering is already a reflective time for many of us, and having a seat can make it even more so,” Justice says.
Taking a few minutes to breathe deeply and direct your attention toward physical sensations, specific emotions or phrases, or simply allowing your mind to wander, carries mental health perks.
In particular, meditation can be helpful for lowering anxiety and depression. In a review and meta-analysis published in 2018 that included more than 12,000 participants, researchers found that mindfulness-based practices such as meditation were equally effective for treating anxiety and depression as evidence-based therapies like antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy.
But you don’t need an anxiety or depression diagnosis to appreciate the stress-lowering benefits of meditation. Moreover, kindness-based meditation practices offer other benefits, like fostering greater compassion toward yourself and others, per one meta-analysis of 22 studies.
Choose a water-resistant stool, such as those made of teak or bamboo, Justice suggests.
5. Essential Oils
Inhaling essential oils, the compounds responsible for a plant’s unique scent, is a quick way to boost well-being. If you don’t have a diffuser, the shower offers an ideal space to reap the benefits of these oils: Simply sprinkle a few drops of the essential oil in the corner and let the steam work its magic.
You can also mount a diffuser to your shower head. “The beauty of a diffuser is that it uses the heat and steam from your shower to disperse calming or invigorating scents throughout the space,” Justice says.
Different oils have different potential effects, so choose a scent geared toward the effect you’re looking for. Intense scents like peppermint, per one study, as well as jasmine and patchouli, are reported to be great for when you need a zap of energy. Zesty citrus essential oils like lemon (according to research), orange, and bergamot lift mood, while lavender (per a review) and chamomile can calm you down.
6. A Waterproof Journal
We all get some of our best ideas in the shower. In fact, in one past study, 30 percent of people from an online survey reported having a moment of insight while showering. Take advantage of that creative boost by keeping a waterproof journal and pencil on-hand so those ideas don’t slip away.
You can also use your journal to record any reflections, affirmations, and intentions that are on your mind that day. This practice can set you up for a more positive day ahead. In fact, one study showed that people who keep a journal experience greater improvements in well-being than those who don’t. “Writing in the shower can be a meditative practice that promotes self-reflection and mental clarity,” Hollows notes.
