Woman relaxes in a hot spring spa with eyes closed and here head resting on the spa side

A hot tub is an investment, and worth every penny. If you've thought of it just as a luxury, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that owning a hot tub can significantly improve your overall wellness. Here's how you can get the most out of your hot tub benefits.

1. Time in your hot tub can improve your emotional wellness

a couple enjoys an evening soak in a grandee nxt hot tub

After a long day at work or at home with the kids, when you need to unwind, go and soak in your hot tub. Relaxing in hot water helps to elevate your mood, calm your nerves and take your mind off the worries of the day. Your hot tub offers a natural source of relief from anxiety and depression.

2. Nightly soaks can improve your sleep

If you have trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night, sit in the hot tub for 20 minutes about two hours before bedtime. Your body cools itself down quickly after you get out of the hot tub, which immediately relaxes you so that you can get a better night's rest. According to a New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center study, “a rapid decline in core body temperature increases the likelihood of sleep initiation and may facilitate an entry into the deeper stages of sleep.”

3. Using your hot tub can improve your physical wellness

a man enjoys a soak in a rhythm spa

Hot tubs improve physical well-being in several ways. If you're an athlete, soaking in a hot tub can help relax your muscles and improve your flexibility. Soaking in a hot tub after engaging in exercise or sports can improve circulation and help alleviate aches and pains.

Hot tubs also provide pain relief, especially for your muscles and joints. Arthritis sufferers and patients recovering from knee surgery can especially benefit from soaking in a hot tub on a regular basis. The hot water relieves the forces of gravity and provides 360-degree support for the affected body part. If you have back pain, the jets can give you an at-home massage and relieve your sore muscles. Also, sitting in a hot tub can help lower your blood pressure.

4. Time in the hot tub can improve your social well-being

Hot tub ownership comes with many social benefits, starting with family. Your spa is the perfect place to connect, one-on-one, with the people who matter most to you.

a young girl enjoys a soak in a highlife vanguard hot tub

If you have children at home who are old enough to use a hot tub, you can teach them to swim, play water games (they'll especially love the CoolZone® feature during summer months), and make time to relax and catch up on the day . (Never put an infant or toddler in a hot tub, and limit older children to 20 minutes at a time in the hot tub at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or less.)

Your hot tub is a great place to turn up the heat on your romantic life. Hot tub lighting sets the mood. After the kids go to bed, you and your partner can spend much-needed alone time together in the spa. If you're single, bring your date over to soak in the outdoor spa and gaze at the stars.

Of course, having your own personal hot tub is a great reason to invite friends over. Grab some snacks and drinks and catch up on laughs. Your spa stands ready year-round for gatherings. You definitely can't say that about an outdoor swimming pool!

Owning a hot tub means you're making an investment in your health and well-being, especially if you use it on a regular basis. The benefits to your mental and physical health and social connectivity contribute to a better life every day.

Find out more about hot tub benefits.