Ever glanced at the clock after a bathroom visit and wondered where those extra ten minutes disappeared?
It happens more often than most people admit. A quick trip somehow turns into scrolling through social media, waiting for things to happen, or leaving the bathroom feeling like the job still isn't quite finished. Before you know it, you're running late for work, your coffee has gone cold, or you've missed the start of your favourite TV show.
The surprising part? Spending longer on the toilet doesn't necessarily mean your body needs more time. In many cases, it points to small lifestyle habits or even the way you're sitting.
Health professionals agree that bowel movements should usually feel comfortable, require minimal straining, and leave you with a sense of complete emptying. If every visit feels like hard work, your body could be telling you that your routine needs a few adjustments.
The good news is that improving your bathroom routine doesn't require expensive supplements or dramatic lifestyle changes. Small, evidence-based habits can make a noticeable difference. Something as simple as drinking enough water, responding to your body's natural urges, moving more during the day, or improving your toilet posture can help make bathroom visits smoother and more efficient.
Let's look at what might be slowing things down and how you can build healthier bathroom habits that work with your body, not against it.
Why Does It Take So Long to Finish in the Bathroom?
If you've ever wondered why someone else seems to be in and out of the bathroom while you're still waiting, you're not alone.
There isn't one single answer. Most of the time, it's a combination of daily habits rather than a serious health condition.
Here are some of the most common reasons.
Your Toilet Posture Isn't Helping
Modern toilets are designed for convenience, but they don't necessarily place your body in its most natural position for passing stool.
When sitting upright with your feet flat on the floor, the rectum remains slightly bent because the puborectalis muscle wraps around it. This bend helps maintain continence but can make bowel movements less efficient.
Raising your knees above your hips by using a toilet stool helps create a squatting-like posture. Research suggests this position relaxes the pelvic floor muscles, straightens the anorectal angle, reduces the need to strain, and may shorten the time it takes to empty the bowel.
That simple adjustment explains why many Australians use a toilet stool as part of their daily digestive wellness routine.
You're Not Getting Enough Fibre
Fibre gives stool its bulk and helps it move more smoothly through the digestive system.
Without enough fibre, stool becomes smaller, firmer, and harder to pass.
The Australian dietary guidelines recommend approximately:
| Adults | Recommended Daily Fibre |
| Women | About 25 grams |
| Men | About 30 grams |
Excellent Everyday Sources Include:
Oats
Wholegrain bread
Brown rice
Lentils
Chickpeas
Apples
Pears
Kiwi fruit
Vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Adding fibre gradually while drinking enough water gives your digestive system time to adjust comfortably.
You Ignore the Urge to Go
Your body is surprisingly good at signalling when it's time for a bowel movement.
Ignoring that signal because you're busy in a meeting, driving to work, or finishing another episode on television can make stool sit in the colon for longer. As more water is absorbed, it becomes firmer and more difficult to pass.
After repeating this habit over time, bathroom visits often become slower and require more effort.
Listening to your body's natural rhythm is one of the easiest ways to improve bathroom efficiency.
You're Spending Too Long Sitting There
Many people carry their phones into the bathroom without giving it a second thought.
Five minutes quickly becomes fifteen.
The longer you remain seated, especially while straining, the more pressure is placed on the veins around the rectum. Colorectal specialists commonly recommend avoiding prolonged toilet sitting because it may contribute to problems such as haemorrhoids in susceptible individuals.
A simple rule is surprisingly effective.
Go when you feel the urge, focus on the task, and leave once you're finished.
Your bathroom doesn't need to double as your reading room.
Can Better Toilet Habits Reduce Constipation?
Yes, healthy toilet habits can play an important role, especially for people experiencing occasional constipation.
Constipation isn't always about how often you go. It can also mean:
Hard stools
Excessive straining
Feeling that the bowel hasn't emptied completely
Spending a long time on the toilet
Lifestyle changes are widely recommended as the first step before relying on medications for occasional constipation.
While Everyone's digestive system is different, these habits often work together to support regular bowel movements:
✔ Drinking enough water throughout the day
✔ Eating fibre-rich foods consistently
✔ Walking or exercising regularly
✔ Responding to bowel urges promptly
✔ Avoiding unnecessary straining
✔ Maintaining healthier toilet posture
Many people notice that improving several of these habits at the same time produces better results than focusing on only one.
How to Improve Your Bathroom Routine Naturally
If your goal is to spend less time in the bathroom while feeling more comfortable afterwards, consistency matters more than perfection.
Small daily habits often have a bigger impact than quick fixes.
Start Your Morning with Water
After several hours of sleep, your body naturally wakes up slightly dehydrated.
Drinking a glass of water shortly after waking supports normal hydration and complements the natural increase in bowel activity that many people experience in the morning.
If breakfast includes fibre-rich foods such as oats, fruit, or wholegrain toast, you're giving your digestive system an even better start.
Move Your Body Every Day
Your digestive system responds well to movement.
Even a brisk 20 to 30 minute walk encourages healthy intestinal motility and can help stools move through the colon more efficiently.
You don't need an intense workout. Consistency is far more valuable than intensity when it comes to digestive health.
7 Daily Habits That Make Bowel Movements Quicker
There's no magic trick for faster bowel movements, but there are habits that encourage your digestive system to work the way it was designed to. The key is consistency. Small changes repeated every day often make a bigger difference than occasional healthy choices.
1. Raise Your Feet While Sitting on the Toilet
One of the simplest changes can also be one of the most effective.
A toilet stool lifts your feet so your knees sit higher than your hips. This creates a posture that's closer to a natural squat, helping relax the muscles around the rectum. Research suggests this position can reduce straining and make bowel emptying feel easier for many people.
For anyone looking to improve their bathroom routine, this is often the easiest place to start because it requires almost no effort once the stool is in place.
2. Eat Fibre at Every Meal
- Rather than trying to squeeze all your fibre into breakfast, spread it across the day.
A balanced approach might look like this:
| Meal | Fibre-rich Choices |
| Breakfast | Oats with berries or kiwi fruit |
| Lunch | Wholegrain sandwich with salad |
| Snack | Almonds or a pear |
| Dinner | Vegetables, legumes and brown rice |
Steady fibre intake helps create softer, bulkier stools that move through the bowel more comfortably.
3. Stay Hydrated
Fibre and water work as a team.
Without enough fluids, fibre can't do its job effectively, and stools may become dry and difficult to pass.
If you're active, spend time outdoors in the Australian heat, or drink plenty of coffee, your hydration needs may be higher than you realise.
4. Give Yourself Enough Time
Ironically, rushing into the bathroom often leads to more rushing.
Your digestive system works best when you're relaxed.
That doesn't mean sitting there for 20 minutes. It simply means avoiding unnecessary stress while allowing your body to finish naturally without forcing it.
5. Move More During the Day
Regular movement encourages the muscles in your digestive tract to keep things moving.
You don't have to join a gym.
Walking the dog, gardening, cycling with the kids, or taking a stroll after dinner all contribute to healthy bowel function.
6. Build a Consistent Routine
Your bowel likes routine almost as much as you do.
Many people naturally feel the urge to go after breakfast because eating activates the gastrocolic reflex, a normal digestive response that stimulates the colon.
Instead of ignoring that signal because you're running late, allow yourself a few extra minutes each morning if possible.
7. Leave Your Phone Outside
This one surprises people.
Many long bathroom visits aren't caused by slow digestion. They're caused by distractions.
Checking emails turns into reading the news.
Reading the news becomes scrolling social media.
Before long, fifteen minutes have disappeared.
Treat your bathroom visit as a quick stop rather than another place to catch up on notifications.
Does a Toilet Stool Really Improve Bathroom Efficiency?
It's a fair question.
After all, bathroom gadgets come and go, and many promise more than they deliver.
A toilet stool is different because its purpose is based on human anatomy rather than gimmicks.
When your knees are raised above your hips, your body moves closer to a natural squatting position. This can help relax the puborectalis muscle, straighten the anorectal angle, and reduce resistance during bowel movements.
While a toilet stool isn't a treatment for chronic constipation or digestive disorders, many users find that it helps make bowel movements feel quicker, more comfortable, and less reliant on straining.
Think of it like adjusting your office chair.
The chair doesn't do your work for you. It simply puts your body in a better position to do the job comfortably.
A toilet stool works in much the same way.
Who Can Benefit from a Toilet Stool?
A toilet stool isn't just for people with digestive concerns.
Many Australians use one simply because it encourages healthier toilet posture.
It May be Particularly Helpful For:
Adults who regularly strain during bowel movements
People who spend a long time on the toilet
Individuals experiencing occasional constipation
Office workers who spend much of the day sitting
Older adults wanting a more comfortable bathroom routine
Pregnant women, after discussing suitable options with their healthcare professional
Anyone interested in improving digestive wellness naturally
If you have persistent constipation, rectal bleeding, unexplained abdominal pain, or sudden changes in bowel habits, it's important to speak with your GP. Lifestyle improvements are valuable, but they should never replace appropriate medical assessment when symptoms continue.
Choosing the Right Toilet Stool
Not all toilet stools are designed the same. Before buying one, look for features that make daily use simple and comfortable.
Stable Construction:-A sturdy stool provides confidence and support every time you use it.
Comfortable Height:-Most adults benefit from a height that comfortably raises the knees above the hips without feeling awkward.
Easy to Clean:- Bathrooms need products that wipe clean quickly and resist everyday moisture.
Fits Around the Toilet:- A compact design that slides neatly under the toilet helps keep your bathroom organised.
Suitable for Daily Use:-A quality toilet stool should become part of your everyday routine, not something you have to think about using.
At Squatty Potty Australia, our toilet stools are designed to fit naturally into Australian homes while helping you create healthier bathroom habits with minimal effort.
Small Changes Often Deliver the Biggest Results
Improving your bathroom routine isn't about finding a miracle solution.
It's about making everyday habits work better together.
Drink enough water.
Eat fibre consistently.
Stay active.
Respond when nature calls.
Avoid unnecessary straining.
And if your posture has been working against you, consider whether a toilet stool could make your daily routine more comfortable.
These changes may seem small on their own, but together they can help you spend less time waiting, reduce unnecessary effort, and leave the bathroom feeling satisfied instead of frustrated.
After all, your bathroom routine shouldn't be the longest part of your morning.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this Squatty Potty Australia blog is intended for general informational purposes only. We do not offer medical advice under any circumstances. A medical professional must be consulted for any advice, diagnosis, or treatment of health-related issues. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. The author will not be held responsible for any misuse of this information. No guarantees are made, either expressed or implied. If you need clarification on any information presented here, please seek medical advice before using any suggested product.
FAQs
Q. How can I spend less time on the toilet?
Ans:- Focus on healthy bowel habits rather than trying to rush the process. Eating enough fibre, drinking adequate water, staying active, responding to bowel urges promptly, and using a toilet stool to improve posture can all help make bowel movements more efficient.
Q. Why does it take me so long to finish in the bathroom?
Ans:- Long bathroom visits are often linked to low fibre intake, dehydration, ignoring the urge to go, prolonged phone use, or straining because of poor toilet posture. If this becomes a regular issue or is accompanied by pain, bleeding, or significant changes in bowel habits, consult your GP.
Q. What habits make bowel movements quicker?
Ans:- Healthy habits include maintaining a balanced diet rich in fibre, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, establishing a consistent toilet routine, avoiding distractions, and sitting in a position that supports easier bowel emptying.
Q. How do I improve my bathroom routine naturally?
Ans:- Start with simple lifestyle changes. Eat more whole foods, drink enough water, move every day, avoid delaying bowel movements, and consider using a toilet stool to promote a more natural squatting posture.
Q. Can better toilet habits reduce constipation?
Ans:- Healthy toilet habits can support regular bowel movements and may reduce occasional constipation for many people. However, ongoing constipation should be assessed by a healthcare professional to identify any underlying medical causes.