One of the biggest things that impacts our overall health: both mental and physical, is getting a good night’s sleep. From improving our energy levels to reducing our risk of cardiac problems (yes, really), getting the right amount of sleep is absolutely crucial, and so it’s no surprise that tips and tricks when it comes to promoting this all-important sleep are popular.
Aside from using The Relax Capsules to help you achieve a dream-like state and feel refreshed in the morning, if you haven’t heard of (or tried) the magic of a weighted blanket, you’re in the right place. Boasting a host of benefits (and levelling up your cosy status), weighted blankets are definitely the next big thing, not just for sleep, but for anxiety, too.
What is a weighted blanket?
For those of you that aren’t in the know yet, a weighted blanket (which are sometimes referred to as a gravity blanket) is a blanket that has been weighted, usually to the weight of around 5-30 pounds. The idea of the blanket is to mimic deep pressure stimulation, otherwise referred to as pressure therapy, which is a popular therapeutic technique that aims to reduce stress and induce deep, restful sleep.
What is deep pressure stimulation?
Deep Pressure Stimulation, sometimes shortened to DTPS, is a gentle pressure style therapy technique that involves a therapist applying slight pressure to points of the body to relax the central nervous system (CNS). The aim of DTPS is to relax your senses and nervous system to promote an overall feeling of calmness, serenity, and peace, releasing neurotransmitters to improve your mood like serotonin and dopamine.
What are the benefits of a weighted blanket?
Aside from obvious benefits of sprucing up your room with a snazzy new weighted blanket, weighted blankets present a huge array of health benefits of a weighted blanket.
Notable benefits of weighted blankets include:
- Increases your serotonin levels
- Eases restlessness
- Promotes deeper sleep
- Reduces your heart rate
- Soothes anxiety and stress
- Increases feelings of safety to promote sleep
- Improves your overall mood
- Aid in muscle recovery
- Help with feelings of loneliness
Aside from these impressive health benefits, weighted blankets can lead to some pretty interesting (and potentially unusual) benefits too…
- Helps assist with symptoms of sensory disorders
- Can help with symptoms of menopause
- Lowers the risk of seizures
- Helps relieve chronic pain
- Decreases your nervous system activity (to promote calmness, of course)
Do weighted blankets help you sleep?
Whilst all these benefits sound great, the main reason people get weighted blankets is to improve sleep.
The short answer? Yes. Absolutely. The even better news? Studies have proven that weighed blankets are great for anxiety, too.
One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that grounding techniques such as the use of a weighted blanket at night not only lead to better sleep, but lowered cortisol levels (you know, the hormone responsible for stress).
How do I know if I need a weighted blanket?
Everyone can benefit from a good night’s sleep, so we’re pretty confident in saying that everyone would benefit from a weighted blanket, particularly in the colder winter months.
Selecting the best weighted blanket
When it comes to picking the best weighed blanket for you, it’s all to do with the weight. When it comes to the selection process, the general rule that is followed is to match your weighted blanket weight with 10% of your body weight.
So, say for example you weighed 150 pounds. You’d want a 15 pound blanket. Someone who weights 200 pounds would most probably opt for a 20 pound blanket. Sound about right?
For the best results when using your weighted blanket, and to ensure you’re reaching as many light pressure points as possible during use, we definitely recommend that you sleep on your back. It’s all about the surface area that your blanket can reach. That’s the stuff.
Summary
Looks like you’re all set, then! With the perfect wind-down evening routine, The Relax Capsules and your personalised weighted blanket in tow, you’re some pretty good night’s sleep.
Don’t be concerned if you don’t immediately feel the benefits of the weighted blanket, either. At first, it can be a slightly strange sensation to have this feeling of weight on top of (or around) you at night, particularly if you’re someone that doesn’t tend to share a bed, co-sleep, or have a furry pet at the end of your bed keeping your feet warm.
Benefits of a weighted blanket aside, a good weighted blanket can feel like a nice, warm hug. Pair that with a nice cup of tea and a movie or your favourite series, and you’re in for a good night in (and a good night’s sleep, too). Sounds like a winning combination to us!
References
- Ghaly, M., & Teplitz, D. (2004). The biologic effects of grounding the human body during sleep as measured by cortisol levels and subjective reporting of sleep, pain, and stress. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 10(5), 767-776. Click here.
