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This weighted blanket is linked to improving sleep and anxiety — and it's on sale for 40 per cent off

Image via NIRVANA.
Image via NIRVANA.

Like many people, I have trouble sleeping.

From Monday to Friday, I average around 5.5 hours of sleep per night. I can fall asleep easily — it’s staying asleep that’s the problem. By the time the weekend arrives, I’m exhausted, and all-too-eager to cancel plans in favour of sleeping sans alarm clock.

I’m lucky that one of the perks of my job as a Yahoo Canada editor is receiving new products for review. From swimsuits to skincare to makeup, it’s fun to test out new items and share my recommendations with Yahoo readers. However, the latest product I was sent to review is one that I’ve debated buying on my own: A weighted blanket.

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As someone with the aforementioned sleep issues, largely attributed to anxiety and depression, the rise in popularity of weighted blankets caught my attention. For years, I’ve been burrowing myself under multiple quilts and blankets, not because I was cold, but out of a need for the Bed Bath & Beyond equivalent to a straight-jacket.

I leapt at the chance to try the Nirvana Blanket by NIRVANA, a Montreal-based company, to see if there was an alternative to layering bedding, and the potential for a good night’s sleep.

About NIRVANA blankets

Weighted blankets have been proven to help people with sleep disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder and dementia, just to name a few.

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Research shows that deep-touch-pressure helps release hormones such as serotonin, oxytocin and melatonin and mimic the feeling of a warm, consensual, hug.

Based on my weight, I was sent the 15-pound Nirvana Original blanket in a plush grey fabric.

My first night with the blanket was bliss. Whether it was psychosomatic or not, I slept soundly and only woke up once instead of the usual three or four times.

After a few nights of using the 15 pound blanket and sleeping fairly well, I decided to fold the blanket in half to redistribute the weight on me. With more weight, I found that I was falling asleep very quickly, and staying in the same position while I slept. I wasn’t tossing or turning like I normally do, and although I still woke up at least once a night, I definitely felt like I was sleeping deeper than before.

With two dogs at home, one of my biggest concerns for having the blanket was how easily it could be laundered. After shelling out $150 to have a down-filled comforter dry cleaned, I wasn’t looking to add another expense.

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I was happy to find that inside the blanket were 11 Magic-Bands that can be removed so that I could easily wash the blanket’s outer layer at home. Reinserting the Magic-Bands was easy, and I liked that they were microwaveable and freezable also.

Worth the price?

The weighted blanket was a welcomed addition to my linen closet. Instead of layering multiple blankets on my bed, I can coordinate my bedding easily with the Nirvana Original and it still looks aesthetically pleasing.

I’m a big fan of my weighted blanket from NIRVANA, and wish I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner.

If you’re like me, and have trouble sleeping because of anxiety, it’s an easy way to practice self-care. Invest in yourself and improve your quality of sleep.

NIRVANA - Nirvana Original

Image via NIRVANA.
Image via NIRVANA.

Available in a variety of fabrics, on sale for 40 per cent off.

SHOP IT: NIRVANA, $199 (regular 329)

The editors at Yahoo Lifestyle Canada are committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. At times, we may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page.

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