Author: Nick Carvell
@nickcarvell
Whether you’re getting ready for work or winding down before bed, any time you spend solo in the bathroom is a chance to relax, expand your mind and work on becoming the best version of yourself. Start and end your day right by checking out our monthly recommendations for bettering your bathroom experience below...
The soundtrack: The Pianoman At Christmas by Jamie Cullum
Look, it’s almost Christmas and, however much you try to fight it, we both know you’ll be sneaking in mince pies and itching for music featuring jingle bells soon. But, instead of listening to the same few songs on a loop this year, go for something new - and, frankly, far cooler (sorry, Slade). Jamie Cullum has just released The Pianoman at Christmas, his first festive album and a jazz-influenced merry masterpiece of original tracks that you’ll be singing along to in the shower in no time.
Stream the album on Spotify now.
The podcast: Where is My Mind? by Nial Breslin
In an era of 24-hour news tickers and constant app alerts, it can feel like we all operate at a higher level of stress than every before - and that’s only got more intense since the pandemic changed all of our lives. It feels like our brains are always on, yet we can also feel totally out of control. That’s why Nial Breslin started his podcast. Each week, Where is My Mind? explores a different aspect of our ‘always-on’ culture and speaks to an expert who can help us make sense of the world we live in - and how we can take back control.
Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The product: Black Clay Face Mask by The Other Saint
With chilly winds outside and central heating inside, your skin is on a temperature roller coaster ride right now - one that will probably lead to a bit of seasonal dryness. To help your skin recover, try our Black Clay Face Mask. Smooth onto your skin two to three times a week, leave for around ten minutes and - boom! - it’s a moisture bomb for your face.
The tech: Light Speaker by Transparent
When is a portable speaker more than just a portable speaker? When it’s also a portable campfire. Designed by Swedish tech outfit Transparent, this Light Speaker is not only chargeable and mobile, but has a specially designed glowing, vibrating bass-and-light element that sits in the bottom of the device. As the music plays, the light responds, creating a flickering glow for max bath time relaxation.
£195 to pre-order on Kickstarter (or £290 for immediate purchase from April 2021), transpa.rent
Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant
Since they began broadcasting Stuff You Should Know in 2008, Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant's podcast exploring curious questions about the world around us has gained a near cult-like following. Now they've compiled a hardback where they get to look into topics in a way they haven't been able to before with charts. illustrations and infographics, as well as whole subject sidebar tangents. A funny, fascinating tome that's packed with the kind of information that'll get conversations going with even the moodiest of teenage relatives over the festive period.
The kit: Linen pyjamas by Piglet In Bed
The festive break gives you complete free reign to spend days at a time in your sleep gear - so make sure you’ve got good looking stuff. The grey linen pyjamas finished with navy piping by West Sussex-based bedding-maker Piglet In Bed are not only some of the most elegant on the market, but the fact they’re cut from woven flax - a fabric that takes far less water to produce than cotton - makes them kinder to the planet than many of their peers too.
The essential: Asparagus Fern
With grim grey skies and leafless trees greeting you outside your window most mornings, winter is the perfect time to get serious about your indoor greenery game - and there’s no better place to start than in your bathroom. An asparagus fern is an excellent place to start. A big fan of humidity and dimly lit spaces (not windowless, mind), this South African beauty has wonderfully tactile fine leaves that feel practically prehistoric. Stack a few around your bath for proper Jurassic Park vibes.
