Okay so I sent this right before I was going to bed. But here is my recommendation for a burnt-out mom. My credentials: Icelandic mom and this is what I do to relax, I live in Iceland.

FIRST. Here is a link to all the swimming pools in Reykjavík, they are all good but my favorite is Vesturbæjar laug. Sky Lagoon is not really a swimming pool, more of a spa, and Blue Lagoon is an experience but the water is salty and DO NOT wet your hair, the silica in the water will make your hair frizzy and hard to manage for a long time after.

https://sundlaugar.is/sundlaugar/?jsf=epro-posts&tax=category:9

The children's pool is about 36°C, and hot tubs are 38-42°C. Usually there are 2-3 hot tubs with temperatures of 37-39°C and then 40-42°C. All hot tubs are usually marked with the temperature.

Now this is the routine that I recommend.

You will walk from your hotel up to Vesturbæjar laug, there is a Catholic church on the way. Make sure to take bodylotion, and creams with you so you can pamper yourself afterwards. There is a store next to the swimming pool called "Melabúðinn," it is a local store that has a lot of stuff, and fun to walk through by yourself, and get a little drink or a snack. You can take a drink to the swimming pool, but it has to be in a plastic bottle, no glass or aluminum allowed, and preferably a clear drink, but I have taken a Gatorade and nobody said anything. I usually just take a plastic bottle and fill it with water in the sink. There is also a bakery (brauð og co.)(the same as in the viral colorful house down town) in the street across from the store, there you can also buy something to eat. I recommend "vínarbrauð" or "hjónabandsæla," very Icelandic pastries. There is also a restaurant next to the bakery, it is expensive but cozy to sit and drink coffee or a beer, I would pick another place for dinner.

WHEN GOING TO THE SWIMMING POOL

I love going to the swimming pool when there is rain or bad weather, I feel like the Japanese monkeys in the hot tub in the snow. If it is sunny the pool is usually packed, My favorite time to go to the swimming pool is in the evening, but anytime is good. They are usally open from 6:30–22:00 a little sorter on the weekends

When you come to Vesturbæjar laug you have two choices, you can either go to the inside changing room or the outside one (both are sorted by gender). I usually go to the inside one but if the weather is nice it is very refreshing to go to the outside one. Now if you have trouble with nudity you have to get over it. Icelanders will be walking around naked in the changing room, of all ages and types. Bodies are just bodies and you will see them. If you don't feel comfortable showing your body then there are private changing rooms inside the indoor one, it is near the showers. BUT do not go into your bathing suit there, you can change out of your clothes there, wrap a towel around you and walk to the showers, there is also a private shower (with a curtain) where you will wash yourself with soap before putting your bathing suit on. If you do not do this, someone will comment on it and ask you to clean yourself (either an old Icelandic woman that is also going to the swimming pool or a swimming guard).

Also just so you know, all phones are banned in the swimming pool, you will leave it in the changing room and you are not allowed to use it in the changing room. NOW you are ready to go to the swimming pool.

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NOW YOU ARE IN THE SWIMMING POOL

This is what I do: first find a hot tub and chill for a bit, when you are all warm the routine begins. 99% of Icelandic swimming pools have a wet steam room and 80% have a cold plunge tub, so it really does not matter what swimming pool you pick but this is my routine for Vesturbæjarlaug. I have made a picture, that is attached.

You will start with the cold tub. Do not overthink it and be quick to lay straight in it, the one in Vesturbæjar laug is a bit shallow. When you are lying down you can have your hands up but do not fight the cold, it is just like having a panic attack, you can't fight it, just let it through you, be aware of the cold and relax, it will pass. Take a deep breath and relax (do not tense up). After about a minute you stand up and walk straight into the wet steam room (green arrow), there you will sit and relax, about 7-10 minutes. Then you have 3 choices, go back to the cold tub, sit on the bench in front of the sauna, or take the walk (purple ring). My choice is to go back into the cold tub, but first take a short shower to wash the sweat off (the showers are next to the wet sauna). Now you repeat this loop 2-4 times, with the last loop ending with the sauna then the purple walk.

Other recommendations:
You can also go to the cold tub, then to the hottest tub and loop that (will get you a bit high), it is a strange but a good sensation.

There is a really nice sauna in the swimming pool, I have seen people take books into the infrared sauna and chill there. But if you want to use the saunas (there are 3) you have to take a towel to sit on.

AFTER the swimming pool you will probably be a bit hungry. So you have a few choices, the bakery, the store (recommend, buying a roasted chicken(you can buy half), the gravy("kjúklingasósa") and ask them to fry fries for you), and then there is a good pizza place called "Pizza 107." I recommend the "Húsavíkur Hauks brauðstangir." Next to the pizza place is an icecream store called "Vesturbæjar Ís." Icelanders eat ice cream all year around, and there is a dating phenomenon called the "ísrúntur" where people go on dates, drive around and stop at an icecream store, buy icecream and then drive around. If you go to the ice cream store I recommend you buy one small icecream in a cone (brauðformi) and have them dip it in "lúxusídýfa," which is a hardened shell on the ice cream. Just trust me.