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Over the last year or so, sleeping with a weighted blanket has become a solid part of my routine for a good night’s sleep. I’m not even sure where I found the idea to get a weighted blanket, but whoever or whatever inspired me, I’m grateful!
I love that I can track when I use my weighted blanket through my Whoop journal, to see if I can really visualize the benefits of a weighted blanket in my data. There’s even a thread on Reddit where someone has noticed that their sleep and recovery scores actually improve when they use a weighted blanket.
In the replies, someone else shares that they get deeper and REM sleep, which actually correlates with what I’ve seen so far in the first month of using the Whoop band.
The importance of sleep
Sleep is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. We tend to spend a lot of time focusing on exercising and eating right, but sleep is often left out of the equation.
Sleep is an integral part of your recovery when you are active and training. And as Dr. Stacy Sims said, “We don’t get fitter during training, we get fitter during the recovery that surrounds it”.
“We don’t get fitter during training, we get fitter during the recovery that surrounds it”
Dr. Stacy Sims
So how much sleep do we need exactly?
It is recommended that the average adult sleep more than 7 hours each night. Personally, I feel great when I have at least 8 hours.
However, a recent JYSK study found that two in five UK adults (42%) get less than 6 hours of sleep a night. Worse yet, 1 in 6 women (16%) survive on up to 5 hours of sleep a night, which rises to 20% in women over 55.
Three in ten (30%) people have also seen their sleep worsen since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, with increases in uncertainty, stress and anxiety causing further sleep disruption.
Sleep deprivation can have a negative effect on your mood, attention span, reaction times, and more.
More sleep posts:
Improve your sleep environment
Research shows that your bedroom environment can affect your sleep, from going to bed to waking up in the morning. You should not underestimate the importance of your bedroom sleep environment. There are four main factors that can affect your sleeping environment; noise, temperature, smell and bedding.
Investing in bedding that helps you sleep rather than hinders it can be one of the biggest wellness investments you make. The right bedding can help counteract many of the factors that prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, including stress, anxiety, and physical comfort.
However,JYSK also found that 1 in 4 adults (26%) don’t invest in sleep, spending no money on bedding or sleep products in an average year.
So what are weighted blankets?
Weighted blankets are simply weighted blankets used to aid sleep and reduce anxiety. Initially, they were used as a therapeutic tool for people with autism spectrum disorders, dementia, and mental health conditions.
Are weighted blankets good? What are the benefits?
Weighted blankets have been shown to help create more restful sleep for their users, especially those who suffer from anxiety. Using ‘pressure therapy’, a weighted blanket uses a calm-inducing amount of pressure throughout the body, giving you a hug-like sensation.
Pressure calms you down by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate when you’re stressed. A lower heart rate leads to the general feeling of calm that the blanket provides.
According to The Sleep Foundation, recommended weights for a weighted blanket can vary. between 5% and 12% of your body weight, and most people prefer a weighted blanket that weighs about 10% of their body weight. Regardless of your weight, a suitable blanket should allow for comfort and movement.
Before investing in a weighted blanket, you should take some time to research which one is best for you, as the correct size and weight of a weighted blanket depends on the individual’s needs.
Best Weighted Blankets on Amazon
If you’re wondering where to buy your weighted blanket, then as usual you can find a good selection on Amazon. Amazon was the first place I looked when I chose to get one and a friend also said they got theirs there too.
Amazon Weighted Blanket Review
I chose the Amazon Basics Cotton Weighted Blanket, All Season, 20lbs, 48″ x 72″ (Double), Dark Grey, but returned it after a short time due to a defect, and at 20lbs, I think it was just a little too heavy for me if I remember correctly.
Most Recommended Weighted Blankets (UK)
After returning the weighted blanket from Amazon, I asked friends for more recommendations and opted for a pink fleece weighted blanket from Wayfair. You can also get the exact same weighted blanket on Amazon: Teddy Fleece Weighted Blanket (blush pink, 150 x 200cm, 8kg). It also comes in a silver gray version.
Covers For Weighted Blankets
One regret I have is not having a removable washable cover for my weighted blanket. I know that I will not be able to wash an 8 kg blanket in my washing machine at home, so it will be a bit difficult to take it to be washed elsewhere.
I highly recommend considering getting a cover for your blanket to make it easier to keep it clean.
If you’ve been thinking about buying yourself a weighted blanket, then this is your cue to try one out! If you’ve already been using one, comment below and share your experience.
elle
