Why this weighted blanket was my best impulse buy

After about four days of locking down in my room during a bout of COVID-19, I suddenly remembered why we did so much impulse buying in 2021.

I was sick, miserable, and had nothing to look forward to except the end of purgatory, which would only arrive when I tested negative. I wanted to buy clothes, but in the end, I chose a much more practical impulse purchase: a weighted blanket from The Oodie.

It took two days to arrive, by which point I was much better, but it's still been a no-regrets purchase that's improved my anxious tendencies in strides. Here's why.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

The Oodie Weighted Blanket

Yours for $139

The science behind weighted blankets

A commonality among anxiety disorders is arousal of the autonomic nervous system, which gives the physical symptoms associated with anxiety. This means increased heart rate, perspiration, lightheadedness or an upset stomach.

While these are a daily occurrence for those with a lot of anxiety, deep pressure stimulation has been proven to relax the nervous system. In the same way a hug can ease our stress and anxiety, so can a heavy blanket.

Weighted blankets are made specifically to replicate this feeling. Glass beads are placed inside the blanket during manufacturing, and dispersed evenly to avoid the weight piling up at one end.

What I love about my weighted blanket

It's recommended you buy a weighted blanket that's roughly 10 per cent of your body weight, but different brands come in different sizes. For that reason, I bought a blanket that weighed 6.8kg, even though that's more than 10 per cent for me.

However, it isn't too heavy at all. I can lift it on and off with ease.

I also love the aesthetic. It's a powder blue colour with a velvety finish, but I'm yet to overheat when I'm under it.

It also just makes me feel calm. I have a habit of sitting in bed underneath it while I watch TV, or reading before I fall asleep. After laying under the blanket, I find I'm able to drift off quicker, and my sleep overall is improving.

However, this leads me to the one negative.

My one con

My one negative when it comes to the weighted blanket is that I haven't been able to sleep through the night with it yet. While I'd considered a bunch of options – sheet plus weighted blanket; sheet and cotton blanket plus weighted blanket; sheet and duvet plus weighted blanket – none of them felt right.

I've gone to sleep for the night under it twice, but both times have woken up feeling like it's a bit too heavy. My sleep-addled brain wonders vaguely if I'm being crushed, a thought that makes it less likely for me to sleep.

I can nap under the blanket easily and did so very often while recovering from COVID. I use it most evenings while I'm winding down, whether in bed or on the couch (although carrying it to and from my bedroom is a workout). However, I always take it off before I fall asleep for the night.

For now, this provides enough deep-pressure stimulation to carry me into an anxiety-free sleep, I'm determined to keep experimenting with how to sleep under the weighted blanket for more than an hour at a time.

My weighted blanket from The Oodie cost me $100 on sale, but it's usually $139. However, you can get them for less! Check out these weighted blankets below.

Gominimo Weighted Blanket

$61.95 here

Microfibre Weighted Blanket

Here from $39

Giselle Bedding 9kg Microfibre Weighted Blanket

$74.95 on Amazon

Dreamz Knitted Weighted Blanket

Yours for $118.99

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