This year, when lockdown loosened and the world started to open up, I decided I needed to get out of this slump and start to treat my body right. So I invested in the latest product blowing up the health and wellness scene: a cooling weighted blanket.
More precisely, I invested in the Kuddly Cooling Blanket and I am glad I did.
I am happy to report that my healthy journey to better sleep has been a success because of my kuddly cooling blanket!
I used to suffer from chronic sleep loss, not only in the hot summer months because I’d be waking up in the middle of the night in puddles of sweat – but also in the winter when my family turned the heat up.
This would increase my symptoms of anxiety and depression to the point that I wouldn’t bother with simple every day tasks. Finding a solution was necessary, so I did my research and learned that weighted blankets help with anxiety, depression, and most importantly insomnia.
But I needed a blanket that wasn’t too hot.
After browsing the internet for the top weighted blanket brands in the UK, I opted for the Kuddly Cooling Blanket, as it claimed to provide all the comforting benefits of a weighted blanket, while keeping you comfortably cool.
The best part, Kuddly is a brand known for its high-quality products, fast delivery times, and reasonable prices.
Once I pressed the complete order button, I was itching to try out my new purchase. The company offers free express shipping, so I didn’t have long to wait, which was another plus.
A day later, my parcel arrived, and I gleefully tore into it. Just look at how brilliant they look: I got both colours: cooling mist and glacial grey.
My first thought after opening the parcel was the quality. My God, THE QUALITY. It was clear it was money well spent. And they were both so soft, I immediately took it with me to the sofa while my hubby and I watched the tele.
As a child, I was surprisingly such a good sleeper. I could easily fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. But as I aged, my anxiety worsened, and I was no longer sleeping well. I would periodically wake up in the night feeling uncomfortable, restless, and too hot.
I am happy to report that since sleeping with my cooling blanket, my restlessness has diminished. At night, I feel comfortably cool and cosy under the heavy cooling blanket, and the weight helps to keep me in a comfortable position for hours of peaceful sleeping.
Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly if you look at the science behind it), I’ve felt like I’ve had more vivid dreams too.
REM sleep, also known as Rapid Eye Movement sleep, is a vital part of our sleep-wake cycle because it is our deepest level of sleep when the body repairs itself, and the brain cements new connections between our memory and consciousness. REM is also when dreaming takes place.
I don’t think I’ve dreamt since I was a child and it was great being able to remember my dreams. It’s not much of a stretch to assume that the cooling blanket helped me dream again with the way it’s helped me reach that perfect REM state.
I only ever used to wake up to the blaring sound of my alarm. However, after just a few nights snuggled up under my cooling blanket, I found myself returning to a state of wakefulness before my alarm went off. Because of this, I stopped using the snooze button, I was ready to get up and start my day.
Literally, the first morning after sleeping with my cooling blanket, I woke up feeling like I had achieved a deeper level of sleep than what I was previously used to. As a result, I finally learned what it’s like to be like a morning person.
They say it can take a few weeks to feel a difference, but after a couple of nights, I was absolutely sold. I can’t go back to not sleeping with a weighted blanket and the fact that mine is cooling is such a huge bonus.
Before they hit the mainstream market, weighted blankets were designed for autistic people to help with sensory differences, but now everyone is using them for all of their comforting benefits.
The gentle pressure of a weighted blanket stimulates deep touch pressure which in turn induces a calming sensation throughout the body. This sensory stimulation calms the nervous system, which in turn generates those happy hormones while relaxing muscles and easing away stress.
In the words of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from Parks and Rec, TREAT YO SELF.
This was my go-to mantra for the weekend, and really, for any session of self-care. Whether it’s taking the time to retreat to my room for a quiet moment, reading one of my favourite books, or bingeing an entire series in one sitting, the Kuddly Cooling Blanket makes all the difference.
I found that I was able to sit and enjoy the task at hand for longer, without the need for readjusting positions or for lack of concentration.
Cuddling up with my cooling blanket also helped me drown out the rest of the world. Those anxious feelings were muted, and I felt a more profound sense of security overall.
So far, my hubby and I have thoroughly enjoyed our experience using the Kuddly Cooling Blanket and we hope that a weighted blanket will benefit your life like it has ours.