Sleep is the Simplest Form of Self Care
Sleep was voted the most valued form of self care when I surveyed the group at the beginning of the month. And I am not at all surprised by that response given that a large portion of this audience is comprised of sleep deprived parents who are either up all hours of the night with a small child or tossing and turning worried about a bigger child. Oh, parenthood (sigh). So for the last blog post of this month of self care, I wanted to find the latest and greatest products whose sole purpose is to give us better nights of sleep. And I conducted a different kind of test than what I usually do for this blog: I rested. I chilled. I snuggled up on the couch. I even took a nap. All in the name of research! I really love February.
My issue with sleep has never been the ability to fall alseep or stay asleep. My issue is finding the time to sleep or sit down or just chill the eff out! And while I am not looking to solve a specific sleep related issue for myself, I’ve certainly been intrigued by the cozy and huggable products from Bearby. They make resting look even more inviting and jealousy inducing. Bearby is in the business of napping and creates environmentally friendly products to assist with slumber in a safe, drug-free way. And they value the same motto that apparently you all do, “Sleep is the simplest form of self-care, and everyone deserves it, naturally and easily.”
Have seen the awkward videos of grown adults cuddling up with the Bearby knotted pillow much like kids do with a stuffed animal? The Hugget may look like a modern decorative pillow, but do not be deceived by this aesthetically pleasing pillow. The Hugget has several purposes. Squeeze and hold a small one to relieve stress and reduce anxiety. Hug a medium sized one for comfort and joy. Sleep on a large one for peace and tranquility. Made out of plants, the Hugget is comprised of Melofoam™ that is squishy, soft, earth friendly and chic.
I had to try the Hugget out for myself to see what the deal was with this funny looking pillow. And if in fact, hugging it was really the answer to all of life’s unanswered questions… or at least how to get a more restful night sleep! While I was at it, I also got Bearby’s weighted blanket after learning about the benefits of a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets for adults mimic the snug swaddle of a newborn, providing comfort, security, safety and overall less stress, which in turn means better sleep. Weighted blankets are not only used to improve the quality of sleep, but they also help with mental illness such as anxiety and depression. Lying under the extra weight calms the nervous system, slows the heart rate and breath, and fosters a more relaxed state. Weighted blankets have also been shown to help adults and children with Autism and ADHD fall asleep and stay asleep, and to help alleviate pain for people who suffer from chronic pain.
No matter what way you sleep, back or belly, or on either side, the benefits of a weighted blanket remain as long as your whole body- shoulders to feet- is under the weight of the blanket. People with certain medical conditions (like circulatory issues, respiratory concerns, asthma or diabetes) should contact their doctors before sleeping with one. And if you are the claustrophobic type, this method of anxiety reduction will likely cause you more stress and should be avoided. Weighted blankets should absolutely never be used on small children during the night.
The proper weight of the blanket in order to maximize its effects should be 10% of your body weight, plus a few pounds. I purchased the 15 pound “Napper.” Larger people will want the 20 or 25 pound blanket. Bearby also has a 10 pound blanket, as well as a smaller size blanket, called “The Nappling,” which is more suitable for children. “The Hugger” fits a queen or king bed, weighs 30 or 35 pounds, and is suitable for couples.
Worried about being a hot sleeper? Bearby’s weighted blanket has the open knit which makes it breathable. And the fibers in the fabric naturally fight off the heat.
Alright, so I am a fan of the Bearby weighted blanket. Not only is it cozy and comforting, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I love how the thick, loose, chunky weave looks at the end of my bed or thrown over the couch. It’s a lot more stylish than what I currently have in those places. And while it is hard to move from room to room (good thing I work out), I enjoy using it for sleep, as well as couch snuggles. (You need to use it consistently for about 4 weeks to really help with the disorders that I described above). The Hugget, on the other hand, didn’t bring me the same amount of joy. While I like the look and idea of it, the medium sized one that I tried didn’t quite do it for me. I liked sliding my hands between the bands. But I felt awkward figuring out where to put it to ensure the most comfort and satisfying chill position.
Here are some other sleep inducing products that I am currently loving….
A more portable way to get some of the effects of the weighted blanket is the weighted sleep mask. The added light pressure feels delightful over my eyes. I think it would be best for travel (i.e. I am immediately thinking of an upcoming overnight flight to Paris). But, because of the weight on the front part of the mask, it doesn’t stay put in the same way that a regular sleep mask does.
I also wanted to try another special sleep pillow that I had recently learned about. The Save My Face Pillow provides the same benefits as a silk pillowcase, but it also helps to lift up and support the face while you sleep, preventing wrinkles and creases. This is another sleep enhancing product that I’ll be traveling with next month.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Whoop in this post that is all about sleep, on this blog that is usually all about fitness. The Whoop uses metrics to build fitness gains by monitoring sleep performance, tracking recovery and readiness to perform, and monitoring your heart rate variability in order to understand your workout better. Bottom line, when you sleep better, you perform better. And this simple band helps you monitor your sleep, rest and recovery in order to move you forward with your fitness goals. It won’t bring you sleep but it will arm you with knowledge. And knowledge is the key to bringing about change!
Self care doesn’t need to end just because February is almost over. Mine certainly isn’t! I have a facial scheduled at the end of this week. Self care- whatever that looks like for you- is self love. And if I have learned anything in my almost 43 years on this planet (that birthday is also this week), it’s hard to love and care for others if you don’t love and care for yourself first.
