There's no reason why bathing should ever be a chore for anyone. Even for the super busy of us, bathing should be a time to relax and indulge. You may find that taking the time to provide yourself with a luxurious, restful bathing experience may improve other areas of your life. You may feel better rested, less stressed, and more confident. Bathing can and should be a beauty/health ritual.
To start, never take a piping hot bath. I know this is hard to resist. I am just now weaning myself off a hot bath. But you will be happy to adjust to lower temperatures when you find that your skin is softer, less dry, and less prone to rashes or rough patches. Hot water will suck moisture from your skin, which will age it. To avoid water that is too hot, let your bath run at its hottest until about half full. Then adjust it to lukewarm until full. This will give you a nice temperature.
Bubbles are a bad idea. They also dry your skin and oftentimes contain ingredients harmful to your skin. Instead, try essential oils. Or pour some olive oil into your bath. Olive oil is one of the best beauty secrets. It's good externally and internally. It is so similar to our body's natural oils that it's absorbed extremely well. You can also pour some creamy milk into your bath. Cleopatra took milk baths to exfoliate and soften her skin. The acids in the milk are excellent.
Exfoliate. Buy an exfoliating cloth and squeeze some gel onto it for maximum luxury. Or make up your own exfoliating paste out of olive oil and sugar. Or opt for oatmeal and vegetable oil.
Never dunk your head in your bath water before shampooing, nor after. I know it can be tempting. I am often too lazy to stand up and use the shower head. But think about it: you've just been stewing in that water. It's got dirt and oil from your body in it. After you shampoo, use a good conditioner. Never put conditioner on your scalp. Apply it from the ends up to about mid-shaft. While you leave that on, shave the necessary areas. Or cleanse your face. When ready to rinse, stand and use the shower. Use the coldest water you can stand. This will close the cuticle and make your hair sleek.
Step out and moisturize with lotion. You should do this when you are still wet, but personally I need to wipe off a bit with a towel. Being soaking wet and slick with lotion is uncomfortable.
If you washed your face during your bath, apply your moisturizer. I hate using toner, but most people advocate it. If you use it, moisturize on top of it.
If you're going out, wrap hair in a towel and put your face on. If not, still wrap it up. It's always better to let hair dry that way a few minutes before attacking it with a blow dryer.
*Use incense or listen to music during your bath if you like
*Enjoy your bath! It's not a punishment! It's supposed to make you feel great and look fresh!