MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

EXCLUSIVE: Lara Worthington On Giving Birth Amid The Pandemic, Beating Body Issues & Wanting More Kids

EXCLUSIVE: Lara Worthington On Giving Birth Amid The Pandemic, Beating Body Issues & Wanting More Kids

Top Selling Face Creams In Australia

Top Selling Face Creams In Australia

This Is How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Hair

This Is How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Hair

Jennifer Aniston And Gwyneth Paltrow Follow One Very Simple Rule To Get A Good Night's Sleep

Jennifer Aniston And Gwyneth Paltrow Follow One Very Simple Rule To Get A Good Night's Sleep

{headline}

{headline}

9 Common Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes When They're Trying To Lose Weight

9 Common Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes When They're Trying To Lose Weight

Olympian Cate Campbell Talks Self-Care, Swimming And Skin Changes

Olympian Cate Campbell Talks Self-Care, Swimming And Skin Changes

What Exactly Is The 'Lazy Keto' Diet?

What Exactly Is The 'Lazy Keto' Diet?

{headline}

{headline}

What Drinking Celery Juice Actually Does To Your Body

What Drinking Celery Juice Actually Does To Your Body

Angela Bassett's Exact Diet And Fitness Routine

Angela Bassett's Exact Diet And Fitness Routine

Elsa Pataky's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Elsa Pataky's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Do Greens Powders Really Work? Marie Claire Investigates

Do Greens Powders Really Work? Marie Claire Investigates

Salma Hayek's Full Diet And Exercise Routine

Salma Hayek's Full Diet And Exercise Routine

Victoria Beckham’s Daily Fitness Regime Is Actually Insane

Victoria Beckham’s Daily Fitness Regime Is Actually Insane

Taylor Swift's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Taylor Swift's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle

Taking A Bath Makes You Happier Than Going For A Run According To

*We knew it* - by Arielle Tsoukatos
  • 25 Oct 2018
 Taking A Bath Makes You Happier Than Going For A Run According To

What do these three things have in common? Going to the gym, taking a bath and enjoying a hot cup of tea.

Put simply: each activity can offer some respite from a bad mood. It turns out there’s a pretty good scientific reason why and it’s got to do with our core body temperature.

 

A recent study published in New Scientist this week concluded that taking regular afternoon baths attributes to a moderate but persistent lift in mood among people with depression. What’s more? The effect was greater than that of hitting the gym or going for a run – a more established mood booster.

RELATED: Lady Gaga Gets Brutally Honest About Mental Health

A group of researchers conducted, an albeit tiny, study at the University of Freiburg in Germany.  They assigned 45 participants with depression with the task of soaking 40C water for up to 30 minutes and then wrapping themselves in blankets and hot water bottles for a further 20 minutes or taking 40 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a week.

Relaxed Oprah Winfrey GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

After 8 weeks the participants who were taking baths averaged a six-point elevation in their mood while those completing exercise scored a three-point increase, on a regularly used depression scale.

The theory goes, by increasing participants’ temperatures at night their cardiac rhythms which affect every organ, including the brain, are strengthened and synchronised. Previous studies suggest that depressed people have a biochemistry, which is associated with flatter variation levels in their temperature.

It’s important to note that those who participated in the study did so, in conjunction with their doctors' ongoing treatment and advice. If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Lifeline.

  • News
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Stress
  • Health
  • Sleep
Arielle Tsoukatos
Arielle Tsoukatos
Arielle is our Senior Digital Beauty & Lifestyle Editor. A few career highlights include; lunch with Kim Cattrall, interviewing Naomi Watts and swapping make-up tips with Margot Robbie on the red carpet. You can find her words on InStyle, marie claire and Women's Health.

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

EXCLUSIVE: Lara Worthington On Giving Birth Amid The Pandemic, Beating Body Issues & Wanting More Kids

EXCLUSIVE: Lara Worthington On Giving Birth Amid The Pandemic, Beating Body Issues & Wanting More Kids

Top Selling Face Creams In Australia

Top Selling Face Creams In Australia

This Is How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Hair

This Is How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Hair

Jennifer Aniston And Gwyneth Paltrow Follow One Very Simple Rule To Get A Good Night's Sleep

Jennifer Aniston And Gwyneth Paltrow Follow One Very Simple Rule To Get A Good Night's Sleep

{headline}

{headline}

9 Common Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes When They're Trying To Lose Weight

9 Common Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes When They're Trying To Lose Weight

Olympian Cate Campbell Talks Self-Care, Swimming And Skin Changes

Olympian Cate Campbell Talks Self-Care, Swimming And Skin Changes

What Exactly Is The 'Lazy Keto' Diet?

What Exactly Is The 'Lazy Keto' Diet?

{headline}

{headline}

What Drinking Celery Juice Actually Does To Your Body

What Drinking Celery Juice Actually Does To Your Body

Angela Bassett's Exact Diet And Fitness Routine

Angela Bassett's Exact Diet And Fitness Routine

Elsa Pataky's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Elsa Pataky's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Do Greens Powders Really Work? Marie Claire Investigates

Do Greens Powders Really Work? Marie Claire Investigates

Salma Hayek's Full Diet And Exercise Routine

Salma Hayek's Full Diet And Exercise Routine

Victoria Beckham’s Daily Fitness Regime Is Actually Insane

Victoria Beckham’s Daily Fitness Regime Is Actually Insane

Taylor Swift's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

Taylor Swift's Exact Diet And Exercise Routine

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

Shop This Offer
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*