Feeling tense? This homeware item is proven to relieve stress and anxiety |

published 17 March 2020

Feeling tense? A little anxious? Maybe the news is stressing you out just a *little*? Us too.

Promising to lift the burden a little, weighted blankets are surging in popularity thanks to their ability to relieve stress and improve sleep. The weighted blankets have been proven to relieve insomnia, anxiety, and stress by essentially wrapping you in a giant hug, neutralising your nerves into a welcome submission.

So what is a weighted blanket, and how does it work?

To state the obvious, weighted blankets are heavier than the kinds of blankets, duvets or quilts that people usually buy. They are typically designed to be 8 to 12 percent of an adult's body weight.

The weight helps ground your body during sleep by pushing it downwards. This process, known as 'grounding', has a deeply calming effect. The blankets also simulate deep pressure touch (DPT), a type of therapy that uses firm, hands-on pressure to reduce chronic stress and high levels of anxiety.

According to Calming Blanket, there's even evidence that weighted blankets can play a part in regulating the chemical balance in our brains, triggering an increase in serotonin – the so-called happiness hormone. Calming Blanket's website also states that studies have shown that people using weighted blankets had lower levels of cortisol – the body’s stress hormone.

Cortisol is produced when your brain thinks you’re under attack, eliciting the fight or flight response, and stress can escalate cortisol levels, which in turn has a negative impact on our sleep, our wellbeing, and even our immune system.

According to Healthline.com, grounding helps reduce nighttime levels of cortisol (the stress hormone). They also claim that weighted blankets trigger the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin through providing deep pressure touch,helping to combat stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression and even weight gain.

The pressure also helps many people achieve a relaxed state, allowing them to sleep more deeply and reach the deep REM stage of sleep more quickly. Better sleep, in turn, also boosts your immune system!

So how can we find the perfect weighted blanket? The magic formula is apparently in the weight, the distribution of the weight, and the material.

The weight should be determined by your own body weight, between 8 to 12 percent, depending on whether your prefer firmer or lighter pressure. Even weight distribution is key, and blankets need to have enough inner ties. Without them, the blanket bunches up and is heavier in places.

Voted the UK's best weighted blanket, the Calming Blanket has 12 inner ties to ensure even weight distribution, sufficient weight, and great weight distribution. Their blankets also feature 6 extra ties in the inner blanket that ensure that it stays as aligned as possible with the outer cover. So once you cover up, the blanket falls perfectly into place and you’re ready for a good night’s sleep.

The adult weighted blanket comes in 4.5kg, 6.8kg or 9kg, and there's a childrens' blanket too, weighing 2.2kg. The woven blanket design is 9kg but can apparently be used by any individual that weighs over 40kgs, as the woven design stretches over the surface area of your body. Aside from being super soft, the blanket can be used in all climates as it doesn’t trap heat. Plus, the weighted blankets arrive in a reusable, environmentally friendly bag.

*adds to cart*

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.