Over the past year or more, sleeping with a weighted blanket has become a solid part of my bedtime routine for a good nights sleep. I’m not even sure where I came across the idea of getting 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 actually visualise the benefits of a weighted blanket in my data. There’s even a thread on Reddit where someone has noticed their sleep and recovery scores really improve when they use a weighted blanket.
In the responses someone else shares that they get more deep and REM sleep, which actually correlates with what I’ve seen so far over 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 well, but sleep often gets left out of the equation.
Sleep is an integral part of your recovery when you’re active and training. And as Dr Stacy Sims said, “we don’t get fitter during training, we get fitter during the recovery around it”.
“We don’t get fitter during training, we get fitter during the recovery around it”
Dr Stacy Sims
So, how much sleep do we need exactly?
It’s recommended that the average adult should get 7+ hours of sleep every night. Personally, I feel great when I get at least 8 hours.
Yet a recent study by JYSK found that two in five UK adults (42%) are sleeping less than 6 hours per night. Even worse, 1 in 6 women (16%) are surviving on up to just 5 hours of sleep a night, increasing to 20% in women over the age of 55.
Three in ten (30%) people have also seen their sleep worsen since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, with increases in uncertainty, stress and anxiety causing greater sleep disruption.
Sleep deprivation can have a negative effect on your mood, attention span, reaction times and more.
More sleep posts:
- How To Sleep Better – Expert Tips
- How Vital Is Sleep To You And Your Training?
- How To Get A Good Nights Sleep
- Clean & Safe Mattress Shopping With TEMPUR®
- Overtraining & Burnout – How To Recognise Symptoms
Improving Your Sleep Environment
Research shows that your bedroom’s environment can impact your sleep, from going to bed to waking up in the morning. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of your bedroom sleep environment. There are four main factors that can impact your sleeping environment; noise, temperature, smell and bedding.
Investing in bedding that aids your sleep rather than hindering it can be one of the greatest well-being investments you make. The right bedding can help to counteract many of the factors that prevent you from getting a good night sleep, including stress, anxiety and physical comfort.
However,JYSK also found that 1 in 4 adults (26%) are not investing in their sleep, spending no money on bedding or sleep products in an average year.
So, What Are Weighted Blankets?
Weighted blankets are simply heavy blankets used to aid sleep and reduce anxiety. Initially they were used as a therapeutic tool for those with autism spectrum disorders, dementia, and mental health conditions.
Are Weighted Blankets Good? What Are The Benefits?
Weighted blankets have been proven to help create a more restful sleep for their users – especially for those who suffer from anxiety. Using ‘pressure therapy’ a weighted blanket uses a calm-inducing amount of pressure on your entire body, providing you with a similar feeling to being hugged.
The pressure calms you by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers your heart rate when you’re stressed. A lower heart rate leads to the overall feeling of calmness that the blanket provides.
According to The Sleep Foundation, recommended weights for a weighted blanket can vary between 5% and 12% of their body weight, with most people preferring a weighted blanket that weighs approximately 10% of their body weight. Regardless of its weight, a proper blanket should allow for comfort and movement.
Before investing in a weighted blanket you should take some time in researching the best one for you as the right size and weight of a weighted blanket depend on the person’s needs.
Best Weighted Blankets on Amazon
If you’re wondering where to buy your weighted blanket from, 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’d got theirs from there too.
Amazon Weighted Blanket Review
I went for the Amazon Basics Weighted Cotton Blanket, All Seasons, 9 kg, 122 x 183 cm (Double), Dark Grey but I did actually return it after a short time due to a defect, and at 9kg, I think it was just slightly too heavy for me if I remember correctly.
- CHECK OUT: TEDDY FLEECE Weighted Blanket 6kg
More Recommened Weighted Blankets (UK)
After I sent back the Amazon weighted blanket, I asked friends for more recommendations and I went for a pink teddy fleece weighted blanket from Wayfair. You can get the exact same weighted blanket on Amazon too – Teddy Fleece Heavy Weighted Blanket (Blush Pink, 150 x 200cm – 8kg). It also comes in a silver grey version too.
- John Lewis & Partners Specialist Synthetic Weighted Blanket, 4.5kg
- icon Charcoal 7KG Weighted Blanket from Urban Outfitters
Covers For Weighted Blankets
One regret I do have, was not getting a removable washable cover for my weighted blanket. I know I won’t be able to wash an 8kg blanket in my washing machine at home so it’s gonna be a bit of a hassle to take it to be cleaned elsewhere.
I highly recommend considering getting a cover for your blanket to make it easier to keep clean.
If you’ve been thinking about getting yourself a weighted blanket, then this is your sign to try one!If you’ve already been using one, comment below and share your experience.
Elle
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