The ultimate shower edit – how 3 editors tailor their routines to fit their lifestyles

When life is busy and you constantly feel like you’re on the go, carving out some time for yourself is essential for your mental well-being. While that might sound impossible when your diary feels like it’s imploding, it's easier than you think if you transform one of your daily tasks, like a shower, into a little time for you.

The ultimate shower routine starts with getting the basics right: a powerful shower that looks beautiful in your bathroom. If your shower isn’t ticking the boxes, it might be worth considering upgrading to a new shower that works for your routine.

This is how three Ideal Home editors tailor their showers to work with their routines.

The early morning cold-blast shower

'I can't function properly without a shower first thing – it's an essential part of my morning routine,’ says Heather Young, Ideal Home Editor-in-Chief. ‘I like to start with a deluge of hot water while I wash, but then I turn the temperature right down cold for 30 seconds at the end for an invigorating finish.'

‘A cold shower blast helps to make me feel more alert and ready for the day, which is why temperature control is so important for me when choosing a shower,’ adds Heather.

While you can turn the shower thermostat down for this, there is now tech that will integrate it automatically into your shower. The Mira Activate with ColdBoost™ shower will take you through a guided cold water experience tailored to four different levels, from beginner to advanced.

The evening unwind shower

‘There is nothing I love more than unwinding after a long day with a relaxing shower,’ says Thea Babington-Stitt, Ideal Home’s Managing Editor. ‘Despite my busy schedule, I always make time for a long, relaxing shower once a week.’

‘To set the mood, I switch on a relaxing playlist, dim the lights and use a waterproof wireless table lamp to gently illuminate the space. But my shower essential is a rainfall overhead to deliver that spa-style experience.’

When switching things up from quick morning showers to leisurely evenings, consider investing in a shower that lets you effortlessly transition between a handset and an overhead shower head.

The speedy post-workout reset

‘The best part of a workout is always the shower afterwards, but as I work out in the morning, I only have a short time to enjoy it so I’m not late for work,’ says Rebecca Knight, Ideal Home's Deputy Editor, Digital.

‘I usually pop a couple of drops of a citrus essential oil in the shower tray for an invigorating scent burst. I then put on a song to act as a timer, when the song is over, it’s time to brave a quick cold blast to soothe my muscles and then get going with the rest of my day.’

‘Since speed is of the essence in my routine, I need to know that my shower will be the perfect temperature as soon as I step into it. That's why a digital shower like the Mira Activate Dual with ColdBoost™ is on my home wishlist.’

This smart shower allows you to create your own presets for shower length, temperature and water flow from the app, ready for that post-gym blast.

Whether you use your shower to wake up in the morning or unwind at the end of the day, get the basics right and make sure that it works for your shower routine.